Geographical Range Northern Australia, southern Papua New Guinea
Habitat Rivers, streams, lakes, lagoons Scientific Name
Carettochelys insculpta Conservation Status Threatened  One look
at its fleshy snout and big nostrils, and you can see where the
pig-nosed turtle got its name. But this freshwater turtle has a
number of other unique body features. Its front limbs have
undersized claws and are shaped like paddles - much like those
of sea turtles. This means that the pig-nosed turtle rows
through the water by moving its forelimbs in unison (as do
marine turtles), rather than swimming like other freshwater
turtles. And here's another interesting physical feature:
although the turtle's upper shell is covered by a layer of skin,
it's not a softshell turtle.  Did you Know?  The pig-nosed
turtle is sometimes known as the Fly River turtle, named after
one body of water in New Guinea where it's commonly found.