Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

 

The family Trionychidae contains 12 genera with ca. 25 species found in Africa, Asia, Australasia, and eastern North America. These turtles inhabit rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and brackish lagoons, usually with a sandy or muddy bottom. Their carapaces are flat and leathery, and lack scutes. They have long necks and elongate snouts with snorkel-like nostrils; the feet are webbed, and possess claws on the three medial digits. The females are usually larger than the males. The softshells are ambush predators and feed on fishes, crustaceans, aquatic insects, snails, amphibians, etc.

 

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