Rafetus
Rafetus swinhoei at Hanoi, Vietnam
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Gnathostomata
Superclass:	Tetrapoda
Class:	Sauropsida
Subclass:	Anapsida
Order:	Testudines
Superfamily:	Trionychia
Family:	Trionychidae
Subfamily:	Trionychinae
Genus:	Rafetus
Species
2 or 3, see text

Rafetus is a genus of highly endangered softshell turtles in the Trionychidae family. These large turtles are found in freshwater habitats in Asia. According to most taxonomists, the genus contains the following 2 species:

• Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus)
• Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei).

A third species, the Hoan Kiem turtle (Rafetus leloii, syn. R. vietnamensis), known from one living specimen, has been proposed as a species. It is considered a junior synonym of Rafetus swinhoei by most authorities,^[1] but some Vietnamese scientists insist the two forms are not identical.

Evolution[edit]

Description[edit]

These animal are large and heavy build

Taxonomy[edit]

Cladogram[edit]

As Walter G. Joyce, Ariel Revan, Tyler R. Lyson and Igor G. Danilov (2009)^[2]

Distribution[edit]

• Rafetus euphraticus: had been found at Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Khūzestān Province of Iran. The International Union for Conservation of Nature rates it as Endangered.^[3]
• Rafetus swinhoei: Only three known living individuals, two in Chinese Zoos and another in Dong Mo, Vietnam. IUCN rates it as critically endangered.^[4] Fourth specimen found in Hoan Kiem Lake may be a distinct species.

References[edit]

1. ^ Farkas, B and Webb, R.G. 2003. Rafetus leloii Hà Dinh Dúc, 2000—an invalid species of softshell turtle from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam (Reptilia, Testudines, Trionychidae). Zool. Abhandl. (Dresden), 53: 107-112.
2. ^ Walter G. Joyce, Ariel Revan, Tyler R. Lyson, Igor G. Danilov (2009). "Two New Plastomenine Softshell Turtles from the Paleocene of Montana and Wyoming" (PDF). Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History 50 (2): 307–325. doi:10.3374/014.050.0202. 
3. ^ European Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group (1996). "Rafetus euphraticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 
4. ^ Buhlmann, K., Rhodin, A. & van Dijk, P.P. (Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Red List Authority) (2000). "Rafetus swinhoei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

External links[edit]

• Rafetus at the National Center for Biotechnology Information
• ITIS
• Rafetus at the Encyclopedia of Life
• Gray, J. E. 1864 Revision of the species of Trionychidae found in Asia and Africa, with descriptions of some new species. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1864: 76-98

Turtle family Trionychidae Genus Species of the subfamily Cyclanorbinae Cyclanorbis Nubian flapshell turtle Senegal flapshell turtle Cycloderma Aubry's flapshell turtle Zambezi flapshell turtle Lissemys Burmese flapshell turtle Indian flapshell turtle Sri Lankan flapshell turtle   Species of the subfamily Trionychinae Amyda Asiatic softshell turtle Apalone Florida softshell turtle Smooth softshell turtle Spiny softshell turtle Chitra Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtle Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle Dogania Malayan softshell turtle Nilssonia Black softshell turtle Burmese peacock softshell Indian softshell turtle Indian peacock softshell turtle Leith's softshell turtle Palea Wattle-necked softshell turtle Pelochelys Cantor's giant softshell turtle New Guinea giant softshell turtle Northern New Guinea giant softshell turtle Pelodiscus Chinese softshell turtle Hunan softshell turtle Lesser Chinese softshell turtle Northern Chinese softshell turtle Rafetus Euphrates softshell turtle Yangtze giant softshell turtle Trionyx African softshell turtle Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2011 update: annotated checklist.