Cane turtle
[4][5] Its head is rather large, with a truncated snout as long as the sizeable orbit; the upper jaw is hooked, with small premaxillae.
The skull lacks a temporal arch and has the frontal bone extended to form a considerable part of the orbit.
The jugal does not contact the small laterally emarginated and medially constricted pterygoid process, the bones being separated by the maxilla and a gap.
The lower temporal fossa is large and strongly concave, providing an attachment for the massive chewing muscle.
The jaws and upper front part of the head are bright yellow in the living animal, with a red spot on the top of the snout.
Females are slightly larger than males, but this smallish turtle does not seem to exceed about 13 cm in carapace length even when fully grown.
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).
[1] It is rarely found in the pet trade.
