A Turtle???

[Alison]

Anyone know what this is please?
I think it's some sort of Turtle. But what's it doing with a pigs nose LOL

[Copy_Kot]

I think it's some sort of Turtle. But what's it doing with a pigs nose LOL

His nose looks like a snorkel and I think it is some kind of soft shelled turtle... where is Dylan and Sushigaijin?

[Dylan8i]

yep, soft shelled turtle. theres different species, but since its captive it doesn't really matter as much (and harder to tell due to it could be from anywhere)

[quetzal]

First thing i thought of was a Snake-necked turtle, not 100% sure though.

[Sushigaijin]

why, that would be Corettochelys insculpta, the Fly river turtle. Neat critters, for sure. The flippers seal the deal.

One thing though, they are heavily controlled by CITES - not that i think there are rats among us, but it is a species that could get an owner into trouble...at least, that is what i remember from my limited knowledge of them. I think that as long as they are not moved interstate, they are OK to have in the US. Certainly australia would be mad if they caught wind. I knew a guy from the seattle area who got into quite a bit of trouble importing them.

Erik.

[paulnj]

Erik , I have seen that species for sale before at shows( in the open ), is it not possible that somebody has been breeding them captively for years and this is a legal turtle?

[Sushigaijin]

Paul:

I don't think anyone is breeding them, AFAIK they get too big to effectively maintain at home. I seem to remember seeing some that were comperable in size to american softshells (Apalone). The issue is in importation; a person cannot legaly import fly river turtles, although we can possess them as long as they are legaly imported. A lot of people do have them, but i would be cautious about transport over state lines and whatever else the lacey act covers. Better to avoid questions than to answer them unsatisfactorily.

It's a catch 22 that covers some other animals as well, namely anything from australia, and many of the asian turtles (genera Coura and Orlitia come to mind.) To be completely honest, i think that most conservation officers would rather see these animals in captivity than on the dinner plate, as China has completely decimated all of it's native turtles over the last 20 years and is rapidly eating anything and everything it can import Including PNG animals like the fly river turtle. In fact, PNG clamped down exports to 0 a few years ago, I am not sure if they have resumed exports today.

basicly fly river turtles skate the ice of legality; they are neither legal nor illegal.


Erik.

[Sushigaijin]

a second pass:

seems the original post hails from the UK, I am not sure how vigilantly CITES animals are protected there, and I do not know how their endangered species laws work. Since the CITES law is mandated, I would suggest that the importation information is applicable.

CITES appendix 2 animals cannot be illegaly imported from the country of (shipment) origin, and must carry paperwork to that effect. CITES appendix 1 animals cannot be possessed by private owners. I can't remember how the other appx are broken down internationally.

Erik.

[paulnj]

As alot of us know....

critically endangered animals find their way to Singapore and away they go world wide.
I seen a blanding's turtle for sale a few weeks ago in PA, are they not listed everywhere within their range? I seen a blue spotted salamander for sale in NJ(20 miles away), where they are ENDANGERED.

I am under the impression from my friend who is a turtle nut the CITES only goes after affenders at the point of origin usually(IE... australia)

http://kingston.kijiji.ca/c-pets-oth...QQAdIdZ5329930

endless exotics had fly river(pig nosed) for sale a few days ago on kingsnake, but I can't find the ad(removed?)...... people are selling them, which means singapore is shipping them or people are breeding them.

I had softshells when I lived in houston and they bred in my pond , why couldn't a guy in FL not be breeding them in his pond(I know I would be breeding pricey turtles if I was in the south)?