Turtle Identification

Indigenous People

This species is very culturally significant to the Yorta Yorta Nation. Freshwater turtles are providers, guide and protector for the Yorta Yorta people. This species  is their totem anima as listed on the logo for the Yorta Yorta Nation.

 

 

Identification: It is a side-necked turtle (Pleurodire), meaning that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than pulling it directly back. 

 

Habitats: This species of turtle that inhabits a wide variety of water bodies and commonly in urban and natural regions like rivers, creeks, dams and lakes. 

 

Diet: Yabbies, fish, tadpoles, invertebrates and is an opportunistic feeder.

 

Habits: The turtle can eject pungent liquid gland secretions web gabdked roughly or feeling threatened. It’s webbed feet are used for swimming and digging. The colour of the carapace varies through shades of brown. The life span ranges from 31 to 37 years in the wild. Captive turtles are known over 50 years. 

 

Reproduction: They can lay up to ten eggs at a time often in shallow excavations near water. Freshwater turtles mate in spring always in water.

Indigenous People

This species is very culturally significant to the Yorta Yorta Nation. Freshwater turtles are providers, guide and protector for the Yorta Yorta people. Presently there is a effort to protect and nurture this species back from its listed vulnerable status. The Yorta Yorta are working with several conservation groups for the Bayadherra. This species  is their totem anima as listed on the logo for the Yorta Yorta nation.

 

Identification: It is a side-necked turtle (Pleurodire), meaning that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than pulling it directly back. Typically a large species that the found is described as huge! The largest of the long necked turtles.

 

Habitats: Favours deeper waters of lagoons, rivers and drainages around the Murray River system.

 

Diet: Specialises in faster prey like fish, shrimps, but will also take crustaceans like yabbies and even carrion..

 

Habits: The turtle can be seen at the surface on billabongs sometimes. However as deep water species it is more often reported when it leaves the water to lay eggs. Signings occur between March and April rarely May and normally during or after heavy rain falls. The turtles mate and feed only in the water. Currently the focus of a large amount of scouting due to the recruitment of juveniles is very poor and while adults can be seen long term predictions of populations defects seems likely without more efforts o recover the loss of the juveniles through fox predation of nesting sites.

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Reproduction: They can lay up to ten eggs at a time often in shallow excavations near water. Freshwater turtles mate in spring always in water.

 

Resources/Further Information

 

Diet of Broad Shelled Turtle. CSIRO Publising. Retrived 5 8 20. https://www.publish.csiro.au/WR/WR9830169

Identification: Shorter neck, distinctive white line along its mouth parts along the side of face. Underside pale yellow or whitish, no black lines(usually long necked turtle).

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Habitats: This species of turtle that inhabits a wide variety of water bodies and commonly in urban and natural regions like rivers, creeks, dams and lakes. Widespread in Melbourne including the Yarra River, Merri Creek, Sunshine River and many of the urban park ponds through introduced individuals from the pet trade.

 

Diet: Larger specimens feed on aquatic vegetation, yabbies, fish, juveniles choose tadpoles, invertebrates and is an opportunistic feeder.

 

Habits: TA diurnal species that is active during the day. Inspring and summer likes to bask on logs, floating weed mats, quickly enters water when approached. They are usually active feeding around urban ponds where ducks are fed as they turtles also make sue of the food. Will emerge from water only when egg laying in late spring or summer. Sometimes when water levels drop these turtles quickly leave water ways and try to source safe harbours.

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Reproduction: They can lay up to ten eggs at a time often in shallow excavations near water. 

This is an introduced ecospecies. They are recognised as the number one invasive species of turtle in the world. Australia has some established populations across eastern Australia larger populations in Brisbane and Sydney. Melbourne has a few specimens that turn up each year although we suspect there are some waterways that may have much more.

 

See link from Department of Primary Industries 

 

How to tell a slider from Victorian freshwater native species?

 

Please refer to this excellent link for guidelines.

 

If you see or have a Red-red Slider please contact 136 186 to report and have removed by an authorised officer from Department of Environment, Water, Land and Water Planning.