Apr 25, 2025
Pig-nosed turtles
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Pig-nosed turtles
Today’s turtle is the Fly River Turtle!
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By rahmadi_aulan; CC BY-NC 4.0
Hey, could you share some facts about pig-nosed or big-headed turtles? I find them really interesting
I actually made a post a while ago about big-headed turtles- you can read it here!
I got to work with these guys once, and they were pretty fun! Very bitey; those beaks can really pack a punch. Also, when they've been in water for a while, they start to grow algae all over their heads and shells. It doesn't hurt them at all, but it does make them look even more prehistoric!
As for the pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta), I can absolutely share some more facts about them! With those looks, they need all the love they can get.
(Image: A pig-nosed turtle via the Australian Department of Parks & Wildlife)
Its unusual nose has a purpose; it allows the turtle to breathe air while the rest of its body remains submerged and safe from predators. The nose is also quite sensitive, and can detect prey from chemical cues in the murky rivers in which the turtle lives.
Part of the reason for the pig-nosed turtle's apparence comes from its impressive lineage. It is the sole member of its family, Carettochelyidae, and it's believed that this branch evolved some 140 million years ago-- about 70 million years before the dinosaurs went extinct!
The Fly River turtles are among the more social turtle species; wherever they are found, it is usually in large aggregations, particularly in the colder winter months.
Lastly, during their incubation period, embryos will create vibrations to communicate with the other eggs in their clutch! These vibrations allow the embryos to speed up or slow down their development so that, when the time comes, all the members of a clutch will hatch at the same time.
(Image: A brand-new pig-nosed turtle hatchling by Gerard Visser & Henk Zwartepoorte)
This account's been quiet, so as I give my region a silent reboot, I've kept busy and decided to do a redesign of the Kanto starters that's been a pretty popular thing to do, and I have to say I love them all. I originally didn't have a theme for them, but I went with a type of Japanese influence for them all, because Bulbasaur's final evolution idea I have was one, and then as I brainstormed Charmander's evolutions it became clear that I did want something really Asian for them, so it made coming up with an evolution for Squirtle all the easier too.
For Bulbasaur (my favorite) I went with a bearded dragon as it's main source for a design, because they're neat and I refuse to believe the original is supposed to be a frog.
Charmander took me the longest to pick a color scheme I liked, but here it is. The main idea behind it is an olm to keep the salamander base, and a flying lizard.
Last but not least, Squirtle, who took me the longest to get to because I had NO IDEA what I wanted for it. Picking an animal was one thing, but I never do a base design without having a whole idea for an entire line. Once the theme for all three came in, the whole design came together. It's based on a pig nosed turtle and a red-bellied short-necked turtle.
I'll post some finished "official" pieces of them later with more, for now enjoy these and lemme know what you guys think of these. Always love comments and feedback, and if you want to guess what the evolution ideas are going to be, go ahead.
The Pig-Nosed Turtle
A Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) swimming around calmly in its tank in the Gardens by the Bay. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.
This was taken at a spot where there wasn’t any reflection and straight on. Getting it at a angle to the thick glass panel would’ve meant distortion and improper focus.
Pig-Nosed Turtle Time? Pig-Nosed Turtle Time!
Winner of Most Boopable Turt Snoot Since Ever, the pig-nose turtle! Also known as the Fly River turtle or the pitted-shell turtle!
Only living member of the family Carettochelyidae! Very close to softshell turtles, but not quite!
Native to Australia and New Guinea! Friend from Down Under!
Unless you mess with home territory, then... grump!
Very mysterious sometimes, needs research, but we do know some things! Like they sometimes gather around hydrothermal vents in the cooler seasons!
Also, they can grow to be 50 pounds and more than 22 inches long! So very shaped!
Snoot is a powerful sensory organ! Helps this friend hunt when the water gets too murky!
Very flexible eater! Can eat fish, figs, crustaceans, seeds, even carrion!
Has very small range, and is in decline in some places in Australia! People don't like when they eat bait, but others like them for pets, both kinds of people lower the population of a vulnerable turt!
Happy to still have turt friend around! Please support turtle conservation!
Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Volume 6: Reptiles. Written by Bernard Grzimek. 1984. Illustration by Helmut Diller.