Pig-nosed turtle

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.

Pig-nosed turtle
A young individual in captivity in Slovakia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Sauropsida
Order:
Testudines
Suborder:
Cryptodira
Superfamily:
Trionychia
Family:
Carettochelyidae
Subfamily:
Carettochelyinae
Genus:
Carettochelys
Species:
C. insculpta
Binomial name
Carettochelys insculpta
Ramsay, 1886
Synonyms
  • Carettocchelys insculptus Ramsay, 1886
  • Carettochelys insculpta Boulenger, 1889
  • Carettochelys insculptus Boulenger, 1889
  • Chelodina insculpta Cann, 1997
  • Carettochelys canni Artner, 2003 (nomen nudum)

Description

The pig-nosed turtle is a very large freshwater turtle, with a shell length of 60-70 centimetres. It is grey to greyish brown in colour on the upper surface, and white to yellow in colour on the lower surface. It has broad paddle-like flippers, each with two claws. Its shell is covered by a soft-pitted skin, instead of the hard scutes that cover the shells of most turtles.


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