Cane Turtle

The carapace is considerably depressed, with a prominent mid-line keel, as well as one less pronounced lateral keel on each side. Its posterior margin is feebly reverted and not or only indistinctly serrated. The nuchal scute is small. The first vertebral scute is broader in front than behind and larger than the second, third and fourth vertebral shields. These are considerably broader than long, as broad as the costal scutes. The plastron is sizeable, being nearly as large as the shell opening; it is connected to the carapace by ligaments and particularly in females there is little ossification between the shields of the shell. The plastron is angled at the sides and openly emarginate at the forward and aft opening. The width of the plastron bridge is less than the length of the hind lobe; the longest median suture is between the abdominal scute, the shortest between the gular scute. The axillary and inguinal scutes are very small; one of the latter is even absent.

Its head is rather large, with a truncated snout as long as the sizeable orbit; the upper jaw is hooked, with small premaxillae. The mandibular symphysis is very long, exceeding the maximum diameter of the orbit in width. On the hind part of the head, the skin is divided into moderately large shields. The skull lacks a temporal arch and has the frontal bone extended to form a considerable part of the orbit. …

This turtle inhabits dense evergreen forest, presumably at lower elevations. According to the natives from whom Henderson obtained the type, the species inhabits short burrows underground and is indifferent about having water nearby (unlike some of its relatives, which are decidedly aquatic). The type as well as another younger specimen were kept in captivity for six months, and Henderson remarks that they did not show any special partiality for water and when handled did not emit the offensive odour known from the related Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga). The first captive specimens lived entirely upon vegetable food, but subsequently it has turned out that this turtle is omnivorous, eating any suitably sized plant and animal food.