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Where do Asian softshell turtles live?

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Illustrations of ten representative chelonians, including spiny softshell turtle, Galapagos giant tortoise, green turtle, alligator snapping turtle, Blanding's turtle, common map turtle, eastern box turtle, eastern painted turtle, spotted turtle, and eastern mud turtle, each labeled with its common and scientific name. A scale bar at the bottom shows size comparison. — turtle Turtles (order Testudines).

Softshell turtles (family Trionychidae) are found in a wide variety of aquatic environments across Asia, ranging from tiny ponds to large rivers. Their specific habitat preferences depend on the genus:1

Flapshell turtles (genus Lissemys): These are commonly found in slow-moving streams and rice paddies.1
Giant softshells (genera Chitra and Pelochelys): These species inhabit large, deep rivers.1

Generally, these turtles are well-adapted to aquatic life, often burying themselves in mud or sand in shallow water, where they can extend their long necks to breathe through their snorkel-like snouts. While they are widely distributed, many species are currently threatened by habitat loss and harvesting, leading some to be classified as endangered species.21