Black Spotted Turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii

The Black Spotted Turtle is also called Hamilton's Terrapin, the Indian Spotted Turtle, the Spotted Pond Turtle and (unhelpfully since there are many others) the Black Pond Turtle.

A terrapin, it lives in large rivers, forest ponds and oxbow lakes with clear, shallow water in the Indus and Ganges river drainages in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

It is not "black-spotted", but black with white or yellow spots. Juveniles have more distinct spots. The only species in its genus, it grows to a carapace length of some 40cm (16 inches).

It is often seen sunbathing on logs and banks.

Like many Asian terrapins, it is threatened by collection for consumption and for the pet trade.