Wildlifeof Thailand
Frog-headed Giant Softshell Turtle
Trionychidae
Photo: Ong Jyh Seng (iNaturalist) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Pelochelys cantorii
Basic stats
Diet
Fish, molluscs and crustaceans
Habitat
Large rivers and estuaries
Range
South and Southeast Asia
The frog-headed giant softshell is an exceptionally broad, flat turtle with a short wide head, small eyes and a smooth leathery carapace. It inhabits large rivers and estuaries across South and Southeast Asia, remaining buried in sand for long periods before lunging at fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Females come ashore to nest on exposed banks (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Critically Endangered (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Frog-headed Giant Softshell Turtle eat?
- Fish, molluscs and crustaceans
- What habitat does the Frog-headed Giant Softshell Turtle live in?
- Large rivers and estuaries
- Where is the Frog-headed Giant Softshell Turtle found?
- South and Southeast Asia