Common snakeneck turtle
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| iCommon snakeneck turtle | ||||||||||||||||
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 Eastern Long Necked Tortoise - pictured at the CSIRO center in Canberra
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Secure
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| Chelodina longicollis |
The distinctive feature of the Common snakeneck turtle (Chelodina longicollis), also known as the Eastern long-neck turtle, is its extremely long neck. In some cases, this turtle's neck can be as long as its carapace. Its carapace (shell) is flattened, broad, and brown with black-edged scutes. On the underside plates (plastron), there are distinctive black lines or seams. It is a type of side-necked turtle, meaning that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than pulling it directly back. It also has powerful webbed feet for swimming, digging, and tearing apart prey.
These turtles are found in the inland slow-moving freshwater habitats (such as swamps, dams, etc.) of eastern Australia. They prefer a soft, sandy bottom and will bask on logs or rocks during the day.
When it feels threatened, this turtle will emit an offensive smelling fluid from its musk glands. This trait gives the turtle one of its other common names, "stinker."
The common snakeneck turtle is carnivorous, eating a variety of animals. They feed on insects, worms, tadpoles, frogs, small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
In early summer, the female will lay between 2 and 10 eggs in the banks of her aquatic habitat. Three to five months later the hatchlings break out of their shells. These young turtles often fall prey to predators such as fish and birds. Females will lay 1 to 3 clutches of eggs per year.
Similar species
- New Guinea Snakeneck turtle (Chelodina novaeguineae)
