Mary River turtle
Mary River turtle | |
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Mary River turtle at the Australia Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Pleurodira |
Family: | Chelidae |
Subfamily: | Chelodininae
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Genus: | Elusor Cann & Legler, 1994 |
Species: | E. macrurus
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Binomial name | |
Elusor macrurus Cann & Legler, 1994[2]
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The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is an
Taxonomy and common names
The Mary River turtle was first formally described in 1994. The Mary River turtle is also
Description
The Mary River turtle is one of Australia's largest turtles. Specimens in excess of 50 cm (20 in) straight
A unique feature of the male Mary River turtle is the tail, which can measure almost two-thirds of the carapace length. The tail has
The Mary River turtle is occasionally informally referred to as the green-haired turtle due to the fact that many specimens are covered with growing strands of algae which resemble hair.[5] It is also sometimes referred to as the bum-breathing turtle due to its use of its cloaca for respiration.
Threats
The Mary River turtle experiences many threats. Predation of hatchlings occurs by red foxes, wild dogs, and fish, especially when the turtle is at the hatchling and juvenile stages of its life. Its number one threat is the looting of its nests by dogs, foxes, and goannas. The land around the Mary River has been cleared many times, leading to low quality water and a build up of silt. Invasive plants along the river bank have also contributed to the lack of breeding success because the plants make it difficult for the Mary River turtle to go ashore and lay its eggs.[1] The Mary River turtle has the ability to blend into muddy waters and wait for unsuspecting prey to pass. Its algae-covered shell also allows it to stay hidden from predators.
Ecology and behaviour
Little is known about the ecology and behaviour of the Mary River turtle. It inhabits flowing and well-oxygenated sections of the Mary River basin from
Conservation
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Mary River turtle was popular as a pet in Australia, with about 15,000 sent to shops every year during a 10-year period. They were originally known as the "penny turtle"[6] or "pet shop turtle".
This species is currently listed as endangered under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992, and under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[6] The international conservation body IUCN lists it as endangered on the IUCN Red List.[1] It is also listed on the Zoological Society of London's Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered list, part of the EDGE of Existence programme.[7][8] The Mary River Turtle has also secured 30th place on the ZSL's Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered list for reptiles. It is Australia's most endangered freshwater turtle species. The Mary River turtle was the second-most endangered freshwater turtle after the western swamp turtle (Pseudemydura umbrina) of Western Australia. The Mary River turtle was listed amongst the world's top 25 most endangered turtle species by the Turtle Conservation Fund in 2003.[9]
Australia's first reptile-focused, nonprofit conservation organization, the Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association, were the first to breed this species in captivity for release into the wild in 2007.[10] A purpose-built hatchery was built along the banks of the Mary River in 2019/2020. This hatchery was built to install nests and it is planned to be used in the future in order to grow the Mary River Turtle population.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Elusor macrurus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T7664A12841291. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016.
- ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original(PDF) on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Mary River Turtle". EDGE of Existence. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Cann, J.; Legler, J.M. (1994). "The Mary River Tortoise: A New Genus and Species of Short-necked Chelid from Queensland, Australia (Testudines: Pleurodira)". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 1 (2): 81–96.
- Independent.co.uk. 11 April 2018. Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "Elusor macrurus in Species Profile and Threats Database". Department of the Environment. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ "Species: EDGE of Existence". Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Mary River Turtle: Elusor macrurus ". Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Turtle Conservation Fund - top 25 turtles in trouble". Turtle Conservation Fund. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ "Australian first". Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
External links
- ISSN 1099-0755.
- Flakus, Samantha Pauline (2003). Ecology of the Mary River Turtle, Elusor macrurus. Master of Science Thesis, University of Queensland.
- "Mary River Turtle". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- "Mary River Turtle - Australia Zoo". Retrieved 17 November 2021.