Pig-nosed turtle

Description

The pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta),also known as the pitted-shelled turtle or Fly River turtle,is a species of turtle native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea.The pig-nosed turtle is unlike any other species of freshwater turtle.The feet are flippers,resembling those of marine turtles.The nose looks like that of a pig,having the nostrils at the end of a fleshy snout,hence the common name.The carapace is typically grey or olive,with a leathery texture,while the plastron is cream-coloured.Males can be distinguished from females by their longer and narrower tails.Pig-nosed turtles can grow to about 70 cm (28 in) carapace length,with a weight of over 20 kg (44 lb).Unlike the soft-shelled turtles of the family Trionychidae,pig-nosed turtles retain a domed bony carapace beneath their leathery skin,rather than a flat plate.They also retain a solid plastron,connected to the carapace by a strong bony bridge,rather than the soft margin of the trionychids.