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2. Pig-nosed Turtle
The pig-nosed turtle is the only freshwater turtle with flipper-like limbs similar to sea turtles. It is commonly found in the regions of Australia and New Guinea. One prominent feature of this turtle is its distinctive nose, resembling that of a pig. With this feature, they can easily breathe when protruding above the water surface or engaging in terrestrial activities. Pig-nosed turtles are also adept at catching prey underwater with the sensitive movements of their nose. Today, due to human overhunting, the global population of pig-nosed turtles has decreased by over half in just 50 years. This unique freshwater turtle exhibits many morphological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics. Unlike other freshwater turtles, the pig-nosed turtle has flippers, resembling those of sea turtles rather than typical freshwater species.
Inhabiting the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia, the large-headed turtle is distinguished by its light brown, relatively smooth shell. Unlike other turtle species, its head is notably large and cannot retract into the shell. Instead, it is covered with a layer of very hard horn pieces to prevent injuries from collisions. The large-headed turtle resides in stream crevices where water flows slowly. They typically rest during the day and forage at dusk or night, preying on soft-bodied animals and small crustaceans. This species, belonging to the Platysternidae family of Testudines order, is identifiable by its very long tail (equal to the length of its body), non-retractable head (covered by very hard horn pieces), upper jaw forming a hook (hence also known as the parrot-beaked turtle), and thick, dense skull. In Vietnam, the large-headed turtle is listed in the reptile category of Hoang Lien National Park, Ba Be National Park, Tay Yen Tu Conservation Area, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Tam Dao National Park, and distributed across the Central region (Quang Tri) to the Central Highlands. This turtle species has a wide distribution in stream basins within limestone mountainous forest areas, yet its population is limited due to reproductive characteristics. Currently, its numbers are decreasing drastically due to the gradual loss of primary forests (encountering them less in secondary forest areas), particularly exacerbated by overhunting for trade with foreign countries. Even conservation and breeding efforts by the Turtle Conservation Program at Cuc Phuong National Park face challenges. The large-headed turtle is listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book with a threatened status of R.
The large-headed turtle
The giant Yangtze Softshell Turtle, also known as Rafetus swinhoei, is a species of softshell turtle. It may be the largest freshwater turtle in the world. It was listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List in 2006 and is one of the rarest turtle species in the world. Among the four surviving individuals of R. swinhoei in 2010, one individual lived in Hoan Kiem Lake, sometimes suggested to be a distinct species named Rafetus leloii (Hoan Kiem Turtle). The Yangtze Softshell Turtle is notable for its long head with a mouth resembling that of a pig. Its size can exceed 100 cm in length, over 70 cm in width, and weigh around 120–140 kg. Its shell can be over 50 cm long and wide. The head is over 20 cm long and over 10 cm wide. Males are generally smaller than females but have larger and longer tails.
The Yangtze Softshell Turtle
The Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle
