Chelodina (Chelodina) oblonga
Narrow-breasted Snake-necked Turtle
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Testudines
Family
Chelidae
Genus
Chelodina
Species
Chelodina (Chelodina) oblonga
Status
near threatened
Colours
Distinguishing features
Distinguishing features still need to be specified.
Size
- Up to 40 cm (Carapace length (neck of about equal length))
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Behaviour
Often seen sunning at the edge of swamps and lakes. The strong claws make it quite a good climber. Sometimes they use the neck as a crook to gain purchase.
A recent study by Jacqueline Giles at Murdoch University discovered that they vocalise under water. Seven distinct "calls" have been identified.
They breed mainly in January and September. Between September and January up to three clutches can be laid. The females emerge from their lake, travel up to 500m, dig a burrow, lay up to 16 eggs and tamp the infill with their plastron (belly plate). The tiny hatchlings (their shell not much bigger than a fifty-cent piece) scramble back to water. Their instinct is to travel downwards (to water).
