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Old 6th June 2006, 02:31 AM   #9
VANDOO
(deceased)
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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SEARCH AFRICA SOFTSHELL TURTLE, THEN SELECT TURTLES OF THE WORLD . YOUR TURTLE IS MOST LIKELY TRIONYX TRIUNGUIS A SPECIES FOUND IN MANY RIVERS IN AFRICA. IT IS EXTINT IN A LARGE PART OF ITS FORMER RANGE IN EGYPTS NILE. TOLD YA IT WAS GOOD TO EAT THERE IS PLENTY OF INFORMATION ON IT AS WELL AS A PICTURE WHICH LOOKS JUST LIKE OUR LOCAL SPECIES.

I HAVE EATEN A FEW BUT LACK THE PROPER COOKING SKILLS TO MAKE IT WORTH CATCHING ANY MORE. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THEIR SHELLS AND QUITE A FEW SPECIES OF OTHER TURTLES FROM LAND AND FRESH AS WELL AS SALT WATER. I HAVE A SMALL COLLECTION OF SHELLS BOTH CURRENT AND FOSSIL. THE SPECIES IN THE USA IS NOT ENDANGERED AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO CATCH (VERY FAST TURTLES AND OBSERVENT) BESIDES MOST OF OUR POPULATION DOES THEIR HUNTING IN THE STORE OR AT THE FAST FOOD PLACE.

I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD SHIELD UNLESS THE AFRICAN SPECIES HAS A THICKER SHELL THAN ITS AMERICAN COUSIN. SEA TURTLE SHELLS MAKE GOOD SHIELDS. THE LARGEST SOFTSHELL TYPE TURTLE IS A SEA TURTLE CALLED A LEATHERBACK IT IS THE LARGEST TURTLE ALIVE TODAY AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER TURTLES AND NOT RELATED TO THE FRESHWATER TYPES.
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