Pig-nosed Turtle

The Pig-nosed Turtle is the sole living member of the family Carettochelyidae, distinguished by its fleshy, pig-like snout and flipper-like limbs resembling those of marine turtles rather than freshwater species. Its shell is covered in smooth, leathery skin rather than hard scutes, an adaptation shared with softshell turtles though the two groups are not closely related. It is primarily herbivorous, feeding on fruits, leaves, and figs that fall into rivers, while also consuming invertebrates and small aquatic animals, making it an important seed disperser within riparian ecosystems.

The species inhabits freshwater rivers, lagoons, and wetlands across southern New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Indonesia) and northern Australia, occasionally venturing into coastal and estuarine waters. It nests on sandy riverbanks during dry-season low-water periods.

Its decline stems from a combination of pressures: eggs and adults are harvested for local and international consumption and the pet trade, while mining and quarrying degrade riverine habitats. Dam construction and water management alter river flow and nesting-bank availability, agricultural runoff and pollution affect water quality, and unpredictable flooding can destroy nests. Invasive species also threaten nesting success and hatchling survival.

Conservation efforts include community-based egg protection and headstarting programs in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, legal protections in Australia, and research monitoring population trends and nesting ecology. International trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II.

Despite these measures, population trends remain downward due to sustained harvesting pressure and ongoing habitat disturbance. Without stronger enforcement of harvest regulations and continued protection of nesting sites, the species' long-term outlook remains precarious.