Emydura

Taxobox
name = Australian Short-necked Turtles


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Macquarie Turtle
"Emydura macquarii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Pleurodira
familia = Chelidae
genus = "Emydura"
genus_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =About 8, and see text

The Australian Short-necked Turtles, "Emydura", are a genus of turtles in the family Chelidae. It is paraphyletic with "Elseya". Consequently, it is anticipated that either the latter will be split into two genera or "Emydura" will be merged into "Elysea".Thomson "et al." (2006)] They can grow quite large, 30cm or more is not unusual and have a life span of around 20-30 years. They generally do not hibernate as their warmer climate lets them remain active all year round; they also spend more time in the water than other varieties. They are considered omnivore but rely on a constant supply of meat to remain healthy, feeding on basically anything that will fit into their mouth. They are characterised by a white strip starting at their nose and leading down their neck, as well as a more rigged shell. In Australia, the public require a basic reptiles licence to purchase these animals; taking from the wild is strictly prohibited.
Species and notable subspecies are:
* North-West Red-Faced Turtle, "Emydura australis"
* Krefft's Turtle, "Emydura krefftii"
* Macquarie Turtle, "Emydura macquarii"
** Clarence River Turtle, "Emydura macquarii binjing"
** MacLeay River Turtle, "Emydura macquarii dharra"
** Sydney Basin Turtle, "Emydura macquarii dharuk"
** Hunter River Turtle, "Emydura macquarii gunabarra"
** Murray River Turtle, "Emydura macquarii macquarii"
* Brisbane Short-necked Turtle, "Emydura signata" - formerly in "E. macquarii"
* Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle or Jardine River Turtle, "Emydura subglobosa"
* Northern Yellow-Faced Turtle, "Emydura tanybaraga"
* Victoria River Red-Faced Turtle, "Emydura victoriae"
* Worrell's Short-Necked Turtle, "Emydura worrelli"

Footnotes

References

* (2006): A New Species of Freshwater Turtle in the Genus "Elseya" (Testudines: Chelidae) from Central Coastal Queensland, Australia. "Chelon. Conserv. Biol." 5(1): 74–86. [http://aerg.canberra.edu.au/reprints/2005_Thomson_etal_Burnett_Elseya.pdf PDF fulltext]