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Showing posts from May, 2021

Why bat an eyelid at Batagur? Batagur’s the Best Beast Because....

Aside from having a completely made-up name* which sounds tough like a boxing dog's  growl,  what  is so outstanding about this group of turtles of the genus  Batagur ? I know I'm not the only one that thinks they're wonderful, they have a set of characteristics which make them remarkable to anyone. Firstly, their physical attributes make them impressive, to herpetologist and lay person alike. Aside from being physically spectacular, biological studies have shown  Batagur  turtles to display some marvelous adaptations to their lifestyle. Lastly, their chosen ecosystems and attributes of their tissues and eggs have made them of conservation interest, leading them to dubious distinction of being among the most represented genera of turtles threatened with extinction.   Dr Shailendra Singh, one of India's leading conservationists is a fan: " I like all large river turtles, and  Batagur   is my favorite genus of them.  Males in nuptial colors are unmatched! I believe