This close-up of the Rafetus swinhoei turtle shows its head and patterned skin. The Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), the world's largest freshwater turtle and one of the most ...

Snapping turtles are large freshwater turtles that are unable to withdraw their head and legs fully into their shells, and so have extremely powerful jaws that they use to defend themselves with by ...

Freshwater extinctions rarely happen overnight, especially in a habitat as large as the Yangtze River. However, it’s still possible for a species to dwindle, and dwindle enough so that only a few ...

The last known female Yangtze giant softshell turtle died in April of unknown causes, leaving only two males as the final known living members of a species that has for years been teetering on the ...

Wildlife often captures our attention in a variety of ways. These unexpected glimpses into the lives of animals also highlight their natural habitat and remind us that the world around us is full of ...

Turtles are often unfairly maligned as fish killers that ruin the ecosystems of our ponds, rivers, and streams. The facts are that many turtles are omnivores and consume large amounts of aquatic ...

Scientists studying the world’s largest river turtles, a South American species that grows to a length of nearly a meter, or 3 feet, have found the largest nesting aggregation ever recorded. Using ...