This family has only one member: the pig-nose turtle. This is quite a large freshwater turtle, with an upper shell that can reach 22 inches (56 centimeters) in length and 14 inches (35.6 centimeters) in width. It may weigh up to 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms). It often swims with just its long snout sticking out of the water. That long snout is one of its most notable features. A fleshy, tube-shaped s…
Unlike most other water-living turtles, the pig-nose turtle swims by paddling its large front legs, rather than using mainly its hind legs. It uses the hind limbs, which have webbing, to help them paddle and steer. They do not bask, or sun themselves, but they do warm their bodies by swimming to areas of the water with higher temperatures, such as small thermal springs, or hot springs. There, they…
Collection of the pig-nose turtle for food and as pets, combined with loss or destruction of their habitat, or preferred living areas, have all threatened this turtle. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has given its status as Vulnerable, meaning that it faces a high risk of extinction, or dying out, in the wild. Logging and farming can destroy waterside plants and drastically increase erosion (i…
Please include a link to this page if you have found this material useful for research or writing a related article. Content on this website is from high-quality, licensed material originally published in print form. You can always be sure you're reading unbiased, factual, and accurate information.
Highlight the text below, right-click, and select “copy”. Paste the link into your website, email, or any other HTML document.
User Comments