REPTILIA: CHELONIA: FAMILY: Chelodina

Chelodina novaeguinea Author and date

New Guinea snakeneck turtle

Photos by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Specimen at right is an adult. All turtles shown here were collected from the Binaturi River, southern Western Province, Papua New Guinea, in June 2000.

Range: Freshwater rivers of coastal New Guinea.

Diagnosis:

Description: 

Young (70 mm carapace length) snakeneck turtle showing pink/coral plastron 
markings. Adult turtles loose the pretty coloring and become a dark tannish gray.

Natural History:

The adult turtle also seen in first photo above. 
The coin is a PNG kina, and measures 40 mm in diameter.

Reproduction: Egg layer. Young hatch in July-August.

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

Literature: