Soft Shell Taco

Up-close pic of face

I've been looking up different reptiles to write about; I tend to find a ton of interesting stuff. Turns out there is an entire group of soft shelled turtles. These turtles look like a plastic toy that was held too close to a flame or a flabby American sunbathing. Perhaps the funniest looking of all these turtles is Cantor's Giant Soft Shelled turtle. Otherwise known as the Frog-faced Soft Shelled turtle. I'm sure you can figure out how it got its name. In adulthood, they can reach the length of 6.5 ft long (thus 'giant' turtle). Their face looks oddly amphibian or fishlike with a nose similar to a mole. Their soft shell is constructed from ribs that spread out to the side and is covered in rubbery skin. Obviously not your every day turtle. Regardless of their weak exterior, these turtles are fierce predators. They will lie in wait until an unlucky fish or crustacean walks by and then strike out their scrunched up neck. Their striking speed is fastest on the planet, beating out the with famed cobra. Then they finish it off with a bite that can break even the strongest bone.

These turtles can be found all over Southeast Asia. However they may be extinct in Vietnam due to hunting. Other populations are teetering on the edge of extinction and are placed on the endangered list. They can be found in lowland freshwater habitats, large rivers, swamps, mudflats, and estuaries.

Extended neck

Links: http://www.arkive.org/frog-faced-softshell-turtle/pelochelys-cantorii/image-G140579.html