The Asian Giant Softshell Turtle lies motionless in the mud at the riverbed, striking prey that swims by unexpectedly.
Found in South Asia and Southeast Asia, the Asian Giant Softshell Turtle or Cantor’s Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) is named after the Danish zoologist Theodore Edward Cantor. This species spends 95% of its life completely motionless, burying itself in the mud or sand of shallow waters, with only its eyes and snorkel-like snout exposed. However, when this bizarre reptile detects food, it can move at lightning speed, according to Live Science.
The Asian Giant Softshell Turtle is extremely rare. (Photo: Ben G. Thomas).
When it spots fish, crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, insects, birds, or small reptiles, the Asian Giant Softshell Turtle swiftly extends its neck to strike at its prey. They possess long claws and an extremely powerful jaw, strong enough to crush bones.
Unlike their relatives, the hard-shelled turtles, this large freshwater turtle has a flat, smooth shell that is green or brown in color. They are also known as frog-faced softshell turtles due to their frog-like facial features. They can grow up to 100 cm in length and can weigh over 100 kg.
Like other softshell turtle species, the Asian Giant Softshell Turtle can filter oxygen from water through its skin, allowing it to stay underwater for extended periods. However, since they can absorb a significant amount of oxygen this way, they only surface for air twice a day.
This is an extremely rare endangered turtle species. From 1985 to 1995, only one specimen was found. They are native to rivers in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. In 2024, the first nest of Cantor’s turtle was discovered by biologists along the Chandragiri River in Kerala, India. The research team utilized local community knowledge to locate the turtle.
