Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)
Habitat: Inhabits mostly on freshwater like rivers and lakes. May also be found in coastal saltwater lagoons
Appearance: Body weight: 200 kg (approx.)
Body length: 1.7 – 2 meters (Female); 2.6 meters (Males); 4-6 meters (on rare Occasions). Coloration is olive above with speckles of black and white or yellowish white ventrally.
Diet: The adult crocodile mostly hunt fishes but any animal that can be overcome is taken. The younger animals feed largely on aquatic insects, frogs, snails and any fish they can catch.
Breeding: The mating season is observed from mid-January to march. Attain Sexual maturity at about 6 years when females measures about 1.7 to 2m in length. For males at 10 years when they are about 2.6m in length. Incubation period: 60 – 90 days. Clutch size: 3 – 40 eggs.
Longevity: 20 to 40 years
Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)
Habitat: Widely distributed and live in all biotopes from evergreen forest to fringes of the desert
Appearance: Maximum length recorded is 1.75 m. Adult are generally grey, olive or brownish in color, with a ventral pattern of grey to black crossbars from the chin to the tail.
Diet: They carnivorous and eats any animals it can overcome. Common prey includes annelids, insects, amphibians, smaller reptiles, birds, small mammals, and eggs.
Breeding: Both males and females become sexually mature at approximately 2.5 to 3 years of age. Clutch size varies from 8 to 30 eggs. Incubation period is from 168 to 254 days.
Lifespan: 22 years
Indian Pond Terrapin (Melanochelys trijuga)
Habitat: Young ones are completely aquatic while adults are semi-terrestrial
Distribution: Bangladesh; British Indian Ocean Territory; India; Maldives; Myanmar; Nepal; Sri Lanka
Appearance: The shell length can reach up to 220mm. Shell light brown in young, darker brown or blackish in adult. Plastron has a yellow border which is prominent in young.
Diet: They forage on vegetation but also known to feed on animal droppings.
Breeding: Usually breed during late monsoon. Clutch size ranges from 3 to 8 in number.
Lifespan: 40 years
Travancore Tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica)
Habitat: Terrestrial in nature.
Distribution: Restricted to western ghats of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
Appearance: The carapace length reaches about 290mm. The scute right behind the head is absent and the second scute along the vertebral column is located at the highest point of the shell.
Diet: Primarily feeds on grasses and herbs.
Breeding: The breeding season is between November and March. Clutch size: 1- 5 eggs. Incubation period: 146 – 149 days.
Lifespan: 30 – 32 years.
Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Habitat: Inhabits of a wide variety of water bodies, and is most abundant in soft-bottomed shallow habitats with minimal flow, abundant access to sunlight and extensive vegetation
Distribution: Native to the eastern and central United States of America
Appearance: The carapace can reach more than 40 cm in length. The carapace usually has a dark green background with light and dark, highly variable markings. In young turtles, it is leaf green and gets slightly darker as a turtle gets older.
Diet: They are omnivorous.
Breeding: Both male and female reach maturity at 5 to 6 years of age. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 30 eggs. Incubation takes 59 to 112 days.
Lifespan: 20 – 40 years.
