Hamadryad Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 11 – 56, 2002. Copyright 2002 Centre for Herpetology, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. A REVIEW OF THE SOFTSHELL TURTLES OF THE GENUS CHITRA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF NEW TAXA FROM MYANMAR AND INDONESIA (JAVA) William P. McCord1 and Peter C. H. Pritchard2 1East Fishkill Animal Hospital, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, U.S.A. (Fax: 845-221-2570; Email:
[email protected]) 2Chelonian Research Institute, 401 South Central Ave, Oviedo, FL, 32765, U.S.A. (Fax: 407-977-5142; Email:
[email protected]) ABSTRACT.– Taxonomic, distribution and morphological data are presented for the trionychid turtle genus Chitra (Testudines: Trionychidae). Many confusing taxonomic details are clarified. Types and type localities are described for both previously named Chitra species. Details of forelimb scalation, chromatic and pattern characteristics, original head drawings accentuating phenotypic characters, shell morphology, general skeletal details, and mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequencing results are presented. The overall range of the genus Chitra is discussed, with details of field collections confirming previously undescribed Indonesian populations. A new species of narrow-headed softshell, Chitra vandijki sp. nov. is described from the Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar, distinguished from its congeners by its distribution, a unique combination of carapace, head and neck patterns, and genetic sequence divergence of a level corresponding to full species recognition. A new subspecies of narrow-headed softshell turtle, Chitra chitra javanensis ssp. nov., is described from eastern Java, Indonesia, distinguished from the nominate subspecies by its distribution, by details of carapace, dorsal head and chin patterns, and by a genetic sequence divergence level appropriate to subspecies status.