| New Guinea snake-necked turtle | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Pleurodira |
| Family: | Chelidae |
| Genus: | Chelodina |
| Subgenus: | Chelodina |
| Species: | C. novaeguineae |
| Binomial name | |
| Chelodina novaeguineae | |
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| Synonyms[3][4] | |
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TheNew Guinea snake-necked turtle (Chelodina novaeguineae) is aspecies ofturtle in thefamilyChelidae. The species is found almost exclusively withinWestern Province, Papua New Guinea.[5]
C. novaeguineae inhabits small and large freshwater bodies of water, jungle rivers with ample vegetation.
Thecarapace is dark brown, almost black, but shows some variation from "normal" turtle patterns. Theplastron is a light brown, tan color.C. novaeguineae has a long neck, which (including the head) can sometimes exceed the length of the carapace. The skin is mostly gray, except for black on the head, and white on the underparts.
When resting,C. novaeguineae twists its long neck off to the side for protection. The highly flexible neck permits foraging in mud as well assnorkeling. It also allows the turtle to strike quickly to capture prey.
The New Guinea snake-necked turtle isoviparous. 17–21 eggs are laid and incubation lasts 75–110 days depending on temperature.
