Cantor’s huge softshell turtle: The frog-faced predator that invests 95% of its time entirely still
Call: Cantor's huge softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantoriiWhere it lives: Rivers in South and Southeast AsiaWhat it consumes: Fish, shellfishes, mollusks, frogs, bugs, birds, little mammalsWhy it's remarkable: Cantor's huge softshell turtles-- called in honor of Danish zoologist Theodore Edward Cantor-- invest 95% of their lives totally motionless, buried under mud or sand in shallow rivers with just their eyes and snorkel-like snouts extending out. When these unusual-looking reptiles area something to consume, they can move at lightning-quick speeds.When they identify fish, frogs or shellfishes, they quickly extend their necks to strike their victim. They have long claws and effective jaws that are strong enough to squash bone.Unlike their hard-shelled cousins, these turtles have tough, fl...