Turtles

Australia is home to about 23 species of freshwater turtle. All but one of these species belong to the family Chelidae, which is found only in Australasia and South America. These long-, snake-, or side-necked turtles retract their head and neck beneath their shell by folding it to one side, rather than drawing their head backwards as most of the world’s species of turtles and tortoises do.

Australia also has six species of marine turtles but lacks the truly land-based tortoises that occur on all other continents except Antarctica. Only three marine turtles occur regularly in Sydney waters, the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead and the Leatherback.

North American species of freshwater turtles have also been found in the Sydney region, probably as a result of people releasing imported pets into local waterways.

Turtles

Featured sightings

Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle) at Merimbula, NSW - 6 Apr 2015 by rickcarey

Unidentified Turtle at Ingham, QLD - 9 Aug 2023 by AlisonMilton

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Fyshwick Sewerage Treatment Plant - 13 Nov 2016 by roymcd

Emydura macquarii (Macquarie Turtle) at West Albury, NSW - 8 May 2022 by KylieWaldon

Chelonia mydas (Green Sea Turtle) at Eraring, NSW - 4 Oct 2021 by bigdook

Chelonioidea (superfamily) (Sea Turtles) at Evans Head, NSW - 15 Aug 2021 by Claw055

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Paddys River, ACT - 15 Mar 2021 by RodDeb

Emydura macquarii (Macquarie Turtle) at Fyshwick, ACT - 3 Dec 2020 by davidcunninghamwildlife

Latest sightings

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Mawson, ACT by EKLawler

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Tharwa, ACT by ryanbadowski

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Tharwa, ACT by ChrisHolder

Chelodina longicollis at Shark Creek, NSW by Topwood

Emydura macquarii (Macquarie Turtle) at Bonython, ACT by LineMarie

Chelodina longicollis at Adelaide, SA by Mike

Emydura macquarii (Macquarie Turtle) at Belconnen, ACT by Thurstan

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Gordon, ACT by MichaelBedingfield

Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Symonston, ACT by CallumBraeRuralProperty

Emydura macquarii (Macquarie Turtle) at Fyshwick, ACT by RodDeb

Chelonia mydas (Green Sea Turtle) at Vincentia, NSW by Miranda

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Discussion

wombey wrote:

14 Dec 2024

Based on most likely species rather than much help from the image

Chelodina longicollis

wombey wrote:

11 Nov 2024

not much to go on here, but happy to accept longicollis based on locality

Chelodina longicollis

Csteele4 wrote:

19 Oct 2024

So many!!

Chelodina longicollis

wombey wrote:

16 Apr 2024

While it is tempting to go with longicollis I have to point out the the scutes on the plastron are missing, exposing the bony plates. The entoplastron plate is forward, not surrounded by the epiplastrons. This does not seem to fit longicollis and probably not even Chlelodina. See Cogger 2014, page 224. We need and opinion from someone who is up on turtles, perhaps Aurthur Georges?

Emydura macquarii

wombey wrote:

27 Nov 2023

Can you down load and image

Chelodina longicollis