A review of the biogeography, diversity, and current conservation status of turtles and tortoises in South Asia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14003535Keywords:
Biogeography, Conservation, Diversity, Indian subcontinent, TurtlesAbstract
There are approximately 357 turtles and tortoise species worldwide, of which 32 freshwater turtles and tortoise species are found in South Asia. According to the IUCN Red List analysis, 85% of South Asian turtle species are threatened (VU, CR, and EN), while the remaining 15% are at low risk (least concern, LC or near threatened, NT). This study focuses on the current conservation status and information regarding its biogeography, distribution, and diversity. We evaluated existing records of South Asian tortoises and terrapins. This review discusses the checklists and proposes the integration of ecological and molecular biology concepts to provide a more comprehensive study and turtle review in South Asia.
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