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.
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
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.