A Reptile Built for Rivers, Stranded by Them
The Indian softshell turtle, Nilssonia gangetica, can grow to over 70 centimetres and weigh close to 25 kilograms. Its shell is not the hard dome most people picture. It is a flattened, leathery pad, cartilaginous rather than bony, that lets the animal slip through fast-moving currents with almost no drag. The neck is long and tubular, tipped with a fleshy, pig-like snout that works as a natural snorkel. The turtle breathes by pushing its snout just above the surface, often without breaking the waterline visibly. This design has barely changed across geological time. The softshell lineage is ancient, and Nilssonia gangetica is one of its most specialised products.
