The Cuatro Ciénegas softshell (''Apalone spinifera atra''), also called the black spiny softshell, is a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the

spiny softshell turtle The spiny softshell turtle (''Apalone spinifera'') is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Both the common name, spiny softshell, and the specific name, ''spinifera'' (spine-bearing), r ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Trionychidae The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles. The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can a ...

. The subspecies, along with its parent species, was formerly classified in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Trionyx''.Chelonia.org
/ref>

Geographic range

''A. s. atra'' is found only in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in the state of

Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Conservation status

As of the last assessment in 1996, ''A. s. atra'' was considered "Critically Endangered" by the "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".

References

Bibliography

* * * Webb RG, Legler JM (1960). "A New Softshell Turtle (Genus ''Trionyx'') from Coahuila, Mexico". ''Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.'' 40 (2): 21–30. (''Trionyx ater'', new species).

External links

*
2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. iucnredlist.org
Retrieved 9 July 2007.

Apalone Endemic reptiles of Mexico Turtles of North America Cuatrociénegas Municipality Natural history of Coahuila Critically endangered biota of Mexico Critically endangered fauna of North America Reptiles described in 1960 Taxa named by Robert G. Webb Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{turtle-stub