在古代(dai),班鱉曾(ceng)廣泛分布于(yu)中國長江下游和(he)太湖(hu)地(di)區。古人稱之為(wei)癩頭黿。由(you)于(yu)肆(si)意捕殺和(he)生(sheng)(sheng)態環境遭到(dao)破壞(huai),自1972年(nian)(nian)以(yi)來,未(wei)發(fa)現任(ren)何野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)個體(ti)。可確認的(de)尚存活的(de)個體(ti)僅有(you)(you)兩(liang)只(zhi)。蘇(su)州動(dong)物(wu)(wu)園(yuan)有(you)(you)一只(zhi)雄性(xing)(xing);長沙動(dong)物(wu)(wu)園(yuan)有(you)(you)一只(zhi)雌性(xing)(xing),已(yi)遷(qian)至(zhi)蘇(su)州動(dong)物(wu)(wu)園(yuan)實(shi)施人工繁殖。另(ling)外(wai),蘇(su)州西(xi)園(yuan)寺放生(sheng)(sheng)池內有(you)(you)一雌一雄兩(liang)只(zhi),雄性(xing)(xing)(名為(wei)方(fang)方(fang))已(yi)于(yu)2007年(nian)(nian)8月死亡,雌性(xing)(xing)并未(wei)實(shi)際觀測(ce)到(dao);上海動(dong)物(wu)(wu)園(yuan)和(he)北京(jing)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)園(yuan)的(de)兩(liang)只(zhi)個體(ti)分別于(yu)2006年(nian)(nian)底和(he)2005年(nian)(nian)死亡。另(ling)外(wai)有(you)(you)消息說美國研(yan)究人員在越南北部(bu)觀察到(dao)一只(zhi)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)斑(ban)鱉。
斑(ban)鱉背(bei)(bei)(bei)甲(jia)長(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing),背(bei)(bei)(bei)盤(pan)長(chang)36-57厘米(mi),背(bei)(bei)(bei)盤(pan)寬度(du)僅略小于(yu)長(chang)度(du),幾近圓(yuan)形(xing)。軀體扁平,僅略隆起,背(bei)(bei)(bei)面平滑(hua)光澤,暗橄(gan)欖綠(lv)(或黑(hei)綠(lv))色,綴有(you)許多黃色斑(ban)點(dian)(dian)。在(zai)(zai)較大(da)(da)的(de)黃斑(ban)間,又(you)散步大(da)(da)量黃色小點(dian)(dian),有(you)時形(xing)成包(bao)圍前述黃色點(dian)(dian)斑(ban)的(de)不(bu)規則(ze)的(de)一圈(quan);有(you)些(xie)小點(dian)(dian)包(bao)圍著(zhu)大(da)(da)點(dian)(dian),有(you)的(de)則(ze)形(xing)成。窄紋;在(zai)(zai)相當于(yu)骨質背(bei)(bei)(bei)甲(jia)部(bu)分,黃色斑(ban)紋形(xing)成橫豎交織的(de)線紋或放射狀紋