Asian Softshell Turtle
Amyda cartilaginea
Adult Asian softshell turtles are large freshwater turtles of rivers, lakes, swamps, and reservoirs across Southeast Asia. They are mostly carnivorous, taking fish, frogs, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and carrion with a fast neck strike and strong jaws. Adults spend much of the day buried in mud or sand, surfacing only the nose to breathe before lunging at prey or retreating from danger. Unlike hard-shelled turtles, their broad flattened shell is leathery and flexible, helping them move through soft-bottomed water habitats.
- Type
- Water / Shell
- Conservation status
- VU
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Asian Softshell Turtle