Reptile
Northern Snake-necked Turtle
Chelodina rugosaAlso known as Northern Long-necked Turtle, Rugose Snake-necked Turtle
Northern snake-necked turtles possess remarkably elongated necks that can equal or exceed the length of their smooth, dark carapace. These aquatic predators ambush prey in tropical billabongs by rapidly striking forward like a striking snake to snap up fish and invertebrates. Uniquely adapted to monsoonal climates, females can lay eggs in submerged mud where embryonic development pauses until floodwaters recede.
AquaticCarnivorousFreshwater
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySmall Fish, Crustaceans, Aquatic Insects
Predators
- Feral Pigs
- Saltwater Crocodiles
- Dingoes
ThreatsFeral pig predation on nests, habitat degradation, seasonal drought
HabitatsFreshwater billabongs, swamps, lagoons, slow-flowing rivers
Life span20–30 years
Classification
- FamilyChelidae
- SpeciesChelodina rugosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a painful bite if cornered; observe safely from a distance.
Responsible observation
- Basking Spots: Scan muddy banks and submerged timber during warm morning hours.
- Observation Distance: Maintain a few meters of space to prevent alarming basking turtles.
Image unavailableFrequent Companion 
Close Relative (c) Thomas Jaeger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Jaeger · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Greg Tasney · cc-by-sa
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