The
Hog-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), also known as the
Australasian Pig-nose Turtle, Pitted-shelled Turtle, Plateless Turtle or
Fly River Turtle, is a species of soft-shelled turtle native to
freshwater streams, lagoons and rivers of the Northern Territory of
Australia and of southern New Guinea. It is a living fossil, being
the only living member of the family Carettochelyidae, and the only
known species in the subfamily Carettochelyinae and the genus
Carettochelys.
The Pig-nosed Turtle is unlike any other species of freshwater turtle
in the world, and the one that is best adapted to an aquatic lifestyle,
with the exception of marine turtles. The carapace is typically grey or
olive in colour, with a leathery texture, while the plastron is cream-coloured.
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. Males can be distinguished from females by
their longer and narrower tails. Pig-nosed Turtles can grow to about 70
cm shell-length, with a weight of over 20 kg.
Unlike the softshell turtles of the family Trionychidae, the
Pig-nosed Turtle retains a domed bony carapace beneath its 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[1].
The species is omnivorous, eating a wide variety of plant and animal
matter, including the fruit and leaves of the fig as well as
crustaceans, molluscs and insects.Females do not reach maturity until at
least 25 years old. They lay their eggs late in the dry season on sandy
river banks. When the offspring is fully developed, they will stay
inside the eggs in hibernation, and not hatch before the eggs have been
flooded with water, which means the rainy season has started and offers
the hatchlings a best possible start in life.
Behaviour
Pig-nosed Turtles are almost entirely aquatic. Little is known about
general behaviour as there have been few studies in the wild. Their
aggressiveness in captivity seems to suggest that this species is
markedly more territorial than most other turtles and tortoises.
In captivity
Pig-nosed Turtles have become available through the exotic pet trade,
with a few instances of captive breeding. While juveniles are small and
grow slowly, their high cost and large potential size makes them
suitable only for experienced aquatic turtle keepers. They tend to be
shy and prone to stress also getting sick easily, which can cause
problems with their feeding, but they are known to eat commercially
available processed turtle pellets or trout chow, as well as various
fruits and vegetables. Breeding is rarely an option to the hobbyist, as
adults are highly aggressive and will attack each other in all but the
largest enclosures. |
