Chelodina longicollis (Shaw, 1794)

Scientific Name

The scientific name of this species is Chelodina longicollis (Shaw, 1794).

Carapace Coloration

Its carapace is generally black, though some individuals have brown carapaces.

Carapace Structure

The carapace is broad and flattened, with a deep groove running down its middle. In individuals with a lighter base carapace color, the scutes are edged in black.

Plastron Characteristics

The plastron is also very broad, and ranges from cream to yellow, with its sutures edged in black.

Neck Structure

The neck is long and narrow, which is a typical trait for members of the subgenus Chelodina, and reaches approximately 60% of the carapace length.

Neck and Head Coloration

The neck has numerous small pointed tubercles; it is grey to black on the dorsal (upper) side and cream on the underside, a color pattern shared by the turtle's narrow head.

Sexual Dimorphism

Females generally grow to larger sizes and have deeper bodies than males. Recorded maximum sizes for females and males vary across the species' geographic range.

Murray River Size Data

In the river environments of the Murray River, maximum straight-line carapace length is 28.2 cm (11.1 in) for females and 24.9 cm (9.8 in) for males.

Latrobe Valley Size Data

In the Latrobe Valley, this maximum is 21.6 cm (8.5 in) for females and 18.8 cm (7.4 in) for males.

Size Variation Cause

This size difference is thought to be linked to the productivity of the local environment.

Defensive Trait

When threatened, this turtle releases an offensive-smelling fluid from its musk glands. This trait gives the species one of its common names, "stinker".

Core Distribution

Chelodina longicollis is distributed across southeastern Australia. Its range extends east from west of Adelaide in South Australia through Victoria, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales, and north to the Fitzroy River of Queensland.

Interspecies Hybridization

Where Chelodina longicollis occurs alongside Chelodina canni, the two species freely hybridize, and hybrid vigour has been observed in the Styx River Drainage of Queensland.

Introduced Range

Chelodina longicollis has been introduced to Tasmania, most likely through the pet trade.

Climate Tolerance

The species' wide distribution has allowed it to tolerate climates that are much colder than those where most other pleurodire turtles live, including southerly and high-altitude temperate climates.

Brumation Observation

In 2023, a high-altitude individual from the New England Tablelands was found brumating in a pool that had been completely frozen over for 15 days during winter. This marks the first documented case of a pleurodire turtle overwintering under ice.

Female Sexual Maturity

In the species' life cycle, female Chelodina longicollis take 10 years to reach sexual maturity.

Egg Laying

In early summer, a female will lay between two and ten eggs in the banks of her aquatic habitat.

Hatchling Development

Hatchlings emerge from their eggs three to five months after laying.

Hatchling Predation

Young turtles are often preyed on by predators including fish and birds.

Clutch Frequency

Females can lay between one and three clutches of eggs each year.