Soft-shelled turtle (Tortoise) - Soft-shelled turtle (English spelling)

Japanese: スッポン(鼈) - スッポン（英語表記）soft‐shelled turtle

A general term for soft-shelled turtles belonging to the Trionychidae family. Approximately 25 species in 6 genera are distributed in Africa, southern and eastern Asia, and North America, but fossils of species have also been found in various parts of Europe. The carapace is about 20 to 40 cm long, with larger species reaching 50 to 80 cm. The carapace is almost circular and flat, covered with thick skin on the surface, lacking scales, and with soft lateral edges. In most species, the carapace and plastron are not attached to each other, but are connected by ligamentous tissue. The head and neck are extremely elongated, and the snout is elongated and tubular, with nostrils opening at the tip.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

スッポン科Trionychidaeに属する軟らかい甲をもつカメ類の総称。約6属25種がアフリカ，アジア南部および東部，北アメリカに分布するが，化石種はヨーロッパ各地からも発見されている。甲長は20～40cmほどで，大型種は50～80cmに達する。甲はほぼ円形で平たく，表面は厚い皮膚に覆われて鱗板を欠き，側縁部が軟らかい。大半の種では背甲と腹甲が固着せず，靱帯組織で結合している。頭頸（とうけい）部がきわめて細長く，吻（ふん）部は細長い管状となって先端に鼻孔が開口している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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