American pig-nosed turtle (SciiFii)

The American pig-nosed turtle (Neocarettochelys scrofanasus), also known as the American pitted-shelled turtle, is a species of turtle that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the wetlands, brackish waters, lakes, rivers, and ponds across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American pig-nosed turtle is unlike most other species of freshwater turtle in its combination of traits, with the exception of the unrelated, yet identical-looking Australian pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta). The feet are flippers, resembling those of marine turtles. The nose looks like that of a pig, having the nostrils at the end of a fleshy snout, hence the common name. The carapace is typically grey or olive, with a leathery texture, while the plastron is cream-coloured. Males can be distinguished from females by their longer and narrower tails. American pig-nosed turtles can grow to about 70 to 75 centimeters (28 to 30 inches) carapace length, with a weight of over 20 kg (44 lb). Unlike the soft-shelled turtles of the family Trionychidae, the American pig-nosed turtles' closest living relative, they retain a domed bony carapace beneath their leathery skin, rather than a flat plate. They also retain a solid plastron, connected to the carapace by a strong bony bridge, rather than the soft margin of the trionychids. American pig-nosed turtles are not completely aquatic. American pig-nosed turtles display a degree of social structure during the cooler dry season around the hydrothermal vents that line some river systems they inhabit. The American pig-nosed turtle is omnivorous, eating a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including the fruit and leaves of figs, as well as crustaceans, molluscs and insects. American pig-nosed turtle females reach maturity at 4 or more years, and males around 6 years. They lay their eggs late in summer on sandy or muddy river banks. When the offspring are fully developed, they will stay inside the eggs in hibernation until conditions are suitable for emergence. Hatching may be triggered when the eggs have been flooded with water or by a sudden drop in air pressure signaling an approaching storm. Using environmental triggers, along with vibrations created by other hatching turtles in the same clutch, gives a better chance for survival. Using a universal trigger rather than simply waiting for incubation to finish means they all hatch at the same time. This provides safety in numbers; also, the more turtles that hatch, the more help they have to dig through the sand to the surface. The conservation status of the American pig-nosed turtle is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American pig-nosed turtle's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.