Index of Freshwater Turtles of Australia - available as a laminated, full-colour poster

Australian Freshwater Turtles
(compiled by John Cann, Marc Dorse and Arthur Georges)

Australia is the driest of vegetated continents. Combined discharge of all of our rivers equals that of the Missouri River of North America, a tributary of the Mississippi.

Little wonder that the diversity of freshwater turtles in Australia does not compare well with that of the Americas or Asia.

However, like the marsupials, Australia’s freshwater turtle fauna is spectacularly different from a northern hemisphere perspective.All but one species belongs to the family Chelidae, a group of side-necked turtles found elsewhere only in South America, New Guinea and the small islands of Roti and Timor.

Among them are forms with the longest necks of any turtle, the rarest turtle in the world, and the only species known to nest underwater. Many have yet to be described.

The enigmatic Pig-Nosed Turtle is the sole surviving member of its family (Carettochelydidae), unique to the Australasian region, but of global interest.



Australian Freshwater Turtles (compiled by John Cann, Marc Dorse and Arthur Georges) Australia is the driest of vegetated continents. Combined discharge of all of our rivers equals that of the Missouri River of North America, a tributary of the Mississippi. Little wonder that the diversity of freshwater turtles in Australia does not compare well with that of the Americas or Asia. However, like the marsupials, Australia’s freshwater turtle fauna is spectacularly different from a northern hemisphere perspective.All but one species belongs to the family Chelidae, a group of side-necked turtles found elsewhere only in South America, New Guinea and the small islands of Roti and Timor. Among them are forms with the longest necks of any turtle, the rarest turtle in the world, and the only species known to nest underwater. Many have yet to be described. The enigmatic Pig-Nosed Turtle is the sole surviving member of its family (Carettochelydidae), unique to the Australasian region, but of global interest.	The content within this section is available as a high quality laminated, full-colour poster (approx. 450mm by 700mm). The cost is $10 + postage. Please use our contact form to order your copy, or to obtain extra copies for your school. ALSO available: Dangerous Creatures of Australia
For photos and descriptions, click on the links below ... FITZROY RIVER TURTLE Rheodytes leukops PURVIS’ TURTLE Elseya purvisi GEORGES’ TURTLE Elseya georgesi FRASER ISLAND SHORT-NECKED TURTLE Emydura macquarii nigra NORTHERN RED-FACED TURTLE Emydura victoriae BELL’S TURTLE Elseya bellii CANN’S TURTLE Chelodina canni COOPER CREEK TURTLE Emydura macquarii emmotti WORRELL’S TURTLE Emydura subglobosa worrelli BALD ROCK CREEK TURTLE Elseya sp EASTERN SNAKE-NECKED TURTLE Chelodina longicollis STYX RIVER HYBRID Chelodina longicollis x canni SANDSTONE SNAKE-NECKED TURTLE Chelodina burrungandjii MARY RIVER TURTLE Elusor macrurus IRWIN’S TURTLE Elseya irwini STEINDACHNER’S TURTLE Chelodina steindachneri SOUTHERN BROAD-SHELLED TURTLE Chelodina expansa NORTHERN BROAD-SHELLED TURTLE Chelodina sp WESTERN SWAMP TURTLE Pseudemydura umbrina LAVARACK’S TURTLE Elseya lavarackorum GILBERT RIVER HYBRID Chelodina rugosa x canni NORTHERN SNAKE-NECKED TURTLE Chelodina rugosa KREFFT’S RIVER TURTLE Emydura macquarii krefftii PIG-NOSED TURTLE Carettochelys insculpta

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