在古代,班鱉曾廣泛(fan)分(fen)布于(yu)中國長(chang)江下游和(he)(he)太湖(hu)地區。古人稱之為癩(lai)頭黿(yuan)。由于(yu)肆意捕殺和(he)(he)生態環境遭到破壞,自1972年以來,未發(fa)現任何野生個體。可確認的(de)尚存活的(de)個體僅有(you)兩(liang)(liang)只(zhi)(zhi)。蘇(su)州動(dong)(dong)物(wu)園(yuan)有(you)一(yi)只(zhi)(zhi)雄性;長(chang)沙動(dong)(dong)物(wu)園(yuan)有(you)一(yi)只(zhi)(zhi)雌性,已遷至(zhi)蘇(su)州動(dong)(dong)物(wu)園(yuan)實施人工繁殖。另(ling)外(wai),蘇(su)州西園(yuan)寺放生池內有(you)一(yi)雌一(yi)雄兩(liang)(liang)只(zhi)(zhi),雄性(名(ming)為方(fang)方(fang))已于(yu)2007年8月死(si)亡(wang),雌性并未實際觀(guan)測到;上海(hai)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)園(yuan)和(he)(he)北(bei)京動(dong)(dong)物(wu)園(yuan)的(de)兩(liang)(liang)只(zhi)(zhi)個體分(fen)別于(yu)2006年底和(he)(he)2005年死(si)亡(wang)。另(ling)外(wai)有(you)消息說美國研(yan)究人員(yuan)在越(yue)南北(bei)部觀(guan)察到一(yi)只(zhi)(zhi)野生斑鱉。
斑(ban)(ban)鱉背(bei)甲長(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing),背(bei)盤長(chang)(chang)(chang)36-57厘米(mi),背(bei)盤寬(kuan)度(du)僅略小(xiao)于長(chang)(chang)(chang)度(du),幾近圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)。軀體扁平,僅略隆(long)起,背(bei)面平滑光(guang)澤,暗橄欖綠(lv)(或黑(hei)綠(lv))色(se)(se),綴有許多黃(huang)色(se)(se)斑(ban)(ban)點(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。在(zai)較大(da)(da)的(de)(de)黃(huang)斑(ban)(ban)間(jian),又散步大(da)(da)量(liang)黃(huang)色(se)(se)小(xiao)點(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),有時形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)包圍前述(shu)黃(huang)色(se)(se)點(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)斑(ban)(ban)的(de)(de)不規則(ze)的(de)(de)一圈(quan);有些小(xiao)點(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)包圍著大(da)(da)點(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),有的(de)(de)則(ze)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)。窄紋(wen)(wen);在(zai)相當于骨質(zhi)背(bei)甲部分,黃(huang)色(se)(se)斑(ban)(ban)紋(wen)(wen)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)橫(heng)豎交織的(de)(de)線紋(wen)(wen)或放射(she)狀紋(wen)(wen)