Elseya novaeguineae

(Meyer, 1874)

Vernacular names
English : Western New Guinea stream turtle
French : Tortue happeuse de Nouvelle Guinée

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family : Chelidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can grow to 30 cm in shell length. Elongated snout, light reddish band on sides of head. Shell is olive grey with dark spots. Yellow shell edges and belly. Yellow chin with two small barbels. Markings tend to fade when adult.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South-East Asia and is found in the extreme western side of New Guinea and in nearby island of Waigeo in Indonesia. Lives in freshwater swamps and rivers, streams on hillsides and lowlands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is relatively common in the wild and occurs in hardly accessible areas. Locally, it is exploited for food and for the pet trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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