New Guinea Giant Softshell Turtle
A very large softshell turtle of the rivers and coastal waters of New Guinea and northern Australia, with a flattened, leathery shell and a wide head.
Overview
A very large softshell turtle of the rivers and coastal waters of New Guinea and northern Australia, with a flattened, leathery shell and a wide head. It is an ambush predator of fish and crustaceans. It is poorly studied, and its distribution overlaps with the closely related P. cantorii.
Classification
The New Guinea Giant Softshell Turtle belongs to the suborder Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles) and the family Trionychidae. It is the family of softshell turtles — flat, pancake-like turtles whose shell is leathery rather than bony. Its scientific name is Pelochelys bibroni.
Appearance & Distinguishing Features
They have a flattened, flexible carapace lacking horny scutes, a long neck, a tubular snout with nostrils like a snorkel, and fully webbed feet. Some species are very large.
Habitat & Distribution
They bury themselves in sand or mud in rivers, lakes, and streams across Africa, Asia, and North America, ambushing prey from concealment.
Diet & Feeding
They are mainly carnivorous, taking fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and amphibians, seizing them with a rapid strike.
Behavior & Conservation
They are fast swimmers and can deliver painful bites. In Asia several species are eaten and farmed, and some are declining from overharvest and habitat change.
Popularity & Recognition
Valued as food across Asia, they are also distinctive oddities in the aquarium and farmed-turtle trades.
