Chelodina oblonga (Gray, 1847)
    Narrow-Breasted Snake-Necked Turtle
 

Chelodina oblonga is restricted to the south-west of Australia around Perth.
In the north of Perth about 170 km up to the Hill river and in the south-east to the Fitzgerals River National Park. Lakes and lagoons are the preferred habitat. The typical size is around 30cm with some specimen even larger. The Plastron is bone colored an the Carapace varies between black, grey and sometimes brown with dark speckles.

Electrophoresis data has placed Chelodina oblongo into the Chelodina group, even the morphological characteristics are more those of the Macrochelodina group.
 
Oblonga2
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All pictures where taken at the Aquarium of the Colone Zoo (Germany) with the permission and friendly assistance of the aquarium staff.
 
 
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4 year old captive born juvenile from the Aquarium of Cologne Zoo (Germany)
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The relative narrow Plastron is a typical characteristic of the 'Narrow breasted' snake-necked turtle.
 
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6 year old animal from the same breeding group in Cologne
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30 year old female that has bred succesfully over many years at the Cologne Aquarium Zoo

 
Breeding and Incubation:

Eggs are incubated at the Cologne Zoo at 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F).  Coarse Vermiculite is used as breeding substrate. Hatchlings emerge after  132 to 173 days of incubation and feed on small fish (guppy) and water fleas. Typical clutch ranges between 6-9 eggs.
 
 
 
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