Chelodina longicollis (Shaw, 1794)
Eastern Long-Necked Turtle
Chelodina longicollis is a small snake-necked turtle from southeastern Australia and reaches about 20cm carapace lenght in captivity.
C. longicollis is widely distributed and is the most common turtle found from the Adelaide area in South Australia, throughout Victoria, coastal and inland New South Wales to the Roma area in Queensland and as far North along the East Coast as Cap York.
The carapace is dark brown to black and the plastron is white or creamy-yellow with the scutes separated by thick black boarders. The neck is covered with pointed tubercles.
Chelodina longicollis is a very hardy turtle and is also able to tolerate lower temperatures than most other turtles of the genus. In colder regions of Australia the turtles may attempt to hibernate, and in warmer regions some turtles aestivate outside the water underneath leaf litter and wood during the hot months. C. longicollis is also known to travel long distances over land to find more suitable ponds and lakes during the dry season.
Chelodina longicollis is a very hardy turtle and is also able to tolerate lower temperatures than most other turtles of the genus. In colder regions of Australia the turtles may attempt to hibernate, and in warmer regions some turtles aestivate outside the water underneath leaf litter and wood during the hot months. C. longicollis is also known to travel long distances over land to find more suitable ponds and lakes during the dry season.
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Adult Chelodina longicollis male | |||||