BELL'S TURTLE

Photographed at Girraween National Park, Queensland, April 2021

181                      BELL'S TURTLE.                 Wollumbinia bellii 

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES                    T10

Found in narrow westerly flowing watercourses along the upper reaches of the McDonald, Namoi, Severn and Gwydir River systems of north-east NSW, and an outlying population at Bald Rock Creek in south-east Queensland. Endangered, vulnerable.

 

COOPER CREEK TURTLE

Photographed at Noonbah Station, Queensland, September 2019

131                  COOPER CREEK TURTLE             Emydura emmotti

TURTLES                   9

Part of the Macquarie Turtle complex. Found from Alice, Barcoo an Thompson drainages of Central Queensland through Coopers Creek and floodplains of Lake Eyre.

SNAPPING GULF TURTLE

Photographed at Lawn Hill National Park, Northern Territory, October 2018

119               SNAPPING GULF TURTLE                       Elseya oneiros

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES             T8 

Not very well known and endangered. Originally described from fossils and then rediscovered as a living species. Found in Nicholson River drainage of Queensland to western Gulf of Carpentaria. 

This turtle has recently been renamed as it was discovered it was not the turtle everyone assumed it was. While it was previously called Elseya lavarackorum it is naw known as Elseya oneiros. Elseya lavarackorum are now thought extinct.

KREFFT'S TURTLE

Photographed at Cairn's Centenary Lakes

73                      KREFFT'S TURTLE              Chelymys krefftii

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES                  7

Also known as Krefft's River Turtle or Krefft's Short-necked Turtle. Only found in Queensland within drainage systems east of Dividing Range, from Brisbane to Princess Charlotte Bay. Found in permanent rivers and swamps, as well as river overflows and lagoons. Carnivorous feeding on aquatic insects and lava, crustaceans, small fish; as become older become more omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, fruits, and any meat found.

MURRAY RIVER TURTLE

Photographed at Mackay Botanic Gardens, Mackay, Queensland, December 2017

66              MURRAY RIVER TURTLE               Emydura macquarii    

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES               6

Also known as Murray River Tortoise, Macquarie Turtle and Murray Short Neck Turtle. Found throughout rivers of eastern Australia, though primarily in the Murray River basin. It is infected with the flatworm Choanocotyle elegans.

SAW SHELLED TURTLE

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

59                    SAW-SHELLED TURTLE                     Myuchelys latisternum 

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES AND TORTOISES                5

Also known as Serrated Snapping Turtle, or Common Sawshell Turtle.Endemic to Australia. ranges along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons. Coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern NSW.carnivorous, feeds on fish, tadpoles, frogs, aquatic insects and cane toads.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

Photographed at Mon Repos, Queensland, November 2017

55               LOGGERHEAD TURTLE               Caretta caretta

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES                 4

Found in tropical and warm temperature waters off Australian coast, including Great Barrier Reef. Carnivorous; forages in deeper water.

BROAD-SHELLED RIVER TURTLE

Photographed near Wellington, NSW, October 2017

37                BROAD-SHELLED RIVER TURTLE                    Chelodina (Macrochlodina) expansa

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES AND TORTOISES                   3

Also known as Broad-shelled Snake-necked Turtle. Distributed through Murray-Darling River system of s-e Australia; distinctive population in central and coastal Queensland. Inhabits permanent streams and waterholes throughout its range, essentially a river turtle.

GREEN TURTLE

Photographed at Monkey Mia, Western Australia

31                GREEN TURTLE               Chelonia mydas

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES AND TORTOISES              2

Carnivorous when young, but almost entirely herbivorous when older. Abundant along tropical coasts of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

LONG-NECKED TORTOISE

30                LONG-NECKED TORTOISE                Chelodina longicollis

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES AND TORTOISES              1

Also known as Eastern Snake-necked Turtle. Found in coastal and inland waters and wetlands of eastern continental Australia, from se SA, to eastern Queensland; introduced into Tasmania. Typically in swamps, oxbow lakes, billabongs or slow-moving rivers. Feeds on variety of aquatic organisms.