Pelochelys signifera (Variegated Giant Softshell Turtle)

Pelochelys signifera, or the Variegated Giant Softshell Turtle, is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It lives in river systems of Papua New Guinea and is rarely seen due to its shy nature and remote habitat.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Pelochelys
Species: Pelochelys signifera

Common Names

Variegated Giant Softshell Turtle
New Guinea Giant Softshell

Identification

Description
This turtle has a broad, flat, leathery shell with a mottled or variegated pattern. The carapace can reach over 2 feet long. It has a long neck, a snorkel-like nose, and webbed limbs suited for swimming. Its skin ranges from olive to brown, often with dark blotches.

Sexual Dimorphism
Females are generally larger than males. Males have longer, thicker tails, while females have shorter ones. Males also tend to have more elongated claws.

Native Origin and Distribution

Geographical Range
This species is found in southern parts of Papua New Guinea. It is known from limited river basins and is considered endemic to this region.

Preferred Habitat

Pelochelys signifera lives in large, slow-moving rivers and floodplains. It prefers soft-bottomed areas with plenty of submerged vegetation or muddy banks for hiding.

Behavior

Feeding Habits
It is carnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. It is an ambush predator, staying buried in the sand or mud until prey comes near.

Predators
Juveniles are preyed upon by birds, fish, and crocodiles. Adults have few natural predators due to their size, but humans pose a major threat.

Reproduction

Breeding Season
Breeding is believed to occur during the wet season, though exact timing is unclear due to limited studies.

Reproductive Method
The species lays eggs on sandy riverbanks. Females dig nests and lay clutches of eggs that hatch after several weeks, depending on temperature and humidity.

Conservation

Extinction Status
Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, but likely threatened due to limited range and human activity.

Threats
Habitat loss from mining and logging, river pollution, and hunting for food all pose serious risks. Egg collection also impacts the population.

Conservation Measures
Very few measures are currently in place. Some rivers where it lives fall under restricted zones, but enforcement is weak. More research is needed to inform conservation efforts.

Economic Importance

It has limited commercial value but is sometimes hunted for meat. Local communities may catch it for subsistence use.

Interesting Facts

This turtle can stay underwater for long periods by absorbing oxygen through its skin and throat lining.
It belongs to a genus known for having some of the largest freshwater turtles in the world.
Sightings are so rare that much of its life remains a mystery.