Gulf snapping turtle

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Gulf snapping turtle
E lavarackorum 2.jpg
Elseya lavarackorum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Elseya
Subgenus: Pelocomastes
Species:
E. lavarackorum
Binomial name
Elseya lavarackorum
(White & Archer, 1994) [1]
Synonyms [2]

See text

The Gulf snapping turtle or Lavaracks' turtle (Elseya lavarackorum) is a large species of freshwater turtle in the sidenecked family Chelidae. [3] The species is endemic to northern Australia in northwest Queensland and northeast Northern Territory. [4] The species, similar to other members of the Australian snapping turtles in genus Elseya, only comes ashore to lay eggs and bask. [5] The Gulf snapping turtle is a herbivore and primarily consumes Pandanus and figs. [6]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, lavarackorum (genitive plural), is in honor of Australian paleontologists Jim Lavarack and Sue Lavarack who discovered the fossil remains of this species. [7]

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1994 as Emydura lavarackorum after fossil material was found in Riversleigh in northwest Queensland. [1] It was later demonstrated anatomically that because of its anterior bridge struts that it actually belonged to the genus Elseya and further to a living, although undescribed form. [4] The species was also declared at this time to be Australia's first living fossil freshwater turtle and an extant population of a Pleistocene taxon. [4] The latter gained significant public attention to this species after a story was published in Discover Magazine in January 1997. [8] After placing this species in the correct genus, it was possible to look at the deeper phylogeny of the Elseya. This species lends its name to the group within the Elseya known as the Queensland Elseya or Elseya lavarackorum group. [9] This is a unique group of species that includes Elseya lavarackorum along with Elseya albagula and Elseya irwini , and all three are divergent from the Elseya dentata group. [3] [4] [9]

In recent papers Joseph-Ouni et al. (2020) attempted to deem this species as a fully extinct species and describe the living population as a new species Elseya oneiros. There is only 27 thousand years between the fossil and the living taxon. As such Joseph-Ouni et al. had to deem the fossil as a member of the true Elseya rather than Pelocomastes hence demonstrating a paraphyletic relationship. The evidence they presented for this was minimal and often unscientific, it was published in a journal that has inadequate scientific review. This situation was refuted by Thomson et al. 2023. [10] This most recent paper presented phylogenetic evidence along with detailed descriptions of over 100 characters to refute the claims by Joseph-Ouni et al. a position accepted by the major turtle and reptile checklists.

Synonymy

Description

The Gulf snapping turtle is a large, brown to dark brown, short-necked turtle. Its carapace, or upper shell, reaches 35 centimetres (14 in) in straight carapace length; it has an undulating suture between the humeral and pectoral shields in the white plastron, or under shell. [12] The undulating (rather than straight) suture in the plastron distinguishes it from the northern snapping turtle ( Elseya dentata ). [6]

Geographic range and habitat

The Gulf snapping turtle is restricted to rivers draining into the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory and Queensland. These rivers range from the Nicholson to Calvert River systems in the Northern Territory to the Gregory River in Queensland. [6] [12]

Behaviour

The Gulf snapping turtle is primarily herbivorous and eat fruits, flowers, leaves, bark and Pandanus roots, and the juveniles also eat insect larvae. Figs are also an important food for the turtle. Despite its usually herbivorous diet, Lavaracks' turtle is readily trapped using meat as bait.

Reproduction

The eggs of E. lavarackorum are laid in soil near the edge of the water. [6]

Status and conservation

The Gulf snapping turtle is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992, [13] as Vulnerable under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992, and as of Least Concern under the Northern Territory's Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000. [12]

The main threats to the turtle include disturbance to nesting sites by feral animals such as pigs, habitat destruction by grazing and watering cattle, and potentially through changes to hydrology, disturbance, and climate change. [12] In addition to these main threats, Lavaracks' turtle has been known to get caught in fishing nets. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelidae</span> Family of turtles

Chelidae is one of three living families of the turtle suborder Pleurodira, and are commonly called Austro-South American side-neck turtles. The family is distributed in Australia, New Guinea, parts of Indonesia, and throughout most of South America. It is a large family of turtles with a significant fossil history dating back to the Cretaceous. The family is entirely Gondwanan in origin, with no members found outside Gondwana, either in the present day or as a fossil.

<i>Chelodina</i> Genus of turtles

Chelodina, collectively known as snake-necked turtles, is a large and diverse genus of long-necked chelid turtles with a complicated nomenclatural history. Although in the past, Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys have been considered separate genera and prior to that all the same, they are now considered subgenera of the Chelodina, further Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys are now known to apply to the same species, hence Chelydera is used for the northern snake-necked turtles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irwin's turtle</span> Species of turtle

Irwin's turtle is a rare species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, originating from the lower region of the Burdekin River area in northern Queensland, and was named after conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin.

The Namoi River snapping turtle, also commonly known as Bell's turtle, the Namoi River elseya, or Bell's saw-shelled turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to New South Wales, Australia.

<i>Elseya</i> Genus of turtles

Elseya is a genus of large side-necked turtles, commonly known as Australian snapping turtles, in the family Chelidae. Species in the genus Elseya are found in river systems in northern and northeastern Australia and throughout the river systems of New Guinea. They are identified by the presence of alveolar ridges on the triturating surfaces of the mouth and the presence of a complex bridge strut.

<i>Elseya branderhorsti</i> Species of New Guinea turtle

Elseya branderhorsti, also known commonly as Branderhorst's turtle and Branderhorst's snapping turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to southern New Guinea, in West Papua Indonesia and Western Province of Papua New Guinea. Until recently it has been a confusing species due to its lost holotype and its sympatry with another, undescribed, species. E. branderhorsti is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN RedList in part due to its vulnerability to the Asian turtle trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Guinea snapping turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Western New Guinea stream turtle or New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of freshwater turtle in the Chelidae family. It is found in the Bird's Head Peninsula and the Bomberai Peninsula west of Cenderawasih Bay, and on the island of Waigeo of West Papua, Indonesia.

<i>Emydura</i> Genus of turtles

Emydura, also known commonly as the Australian short-necked turtles, is a genus of turtles in the family Chelidae. The genus was paraphyletic with Elseya. Consequently, it was split into two genera Myuchelys and Elseya by Thomson and Georges in 2009. Turtles of the genus Emydura can grow quite large, 30 cm (12 in) 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 turtles. They are considered omnivorous 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 stripe starting at the nose and leading down the neck, as well as a more ridged shell. In Australia, the public require a basic reptiles licence to purchase these turtles; taking from the wild is strictly prohibited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-bellied short-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The red-bellied short-necked turtle, also known commonly as the pink-bellied side-necked turtle and the Jardine River turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is native to Australia and New Guinea. There are two recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitzroy River turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Fitzroy River turtle is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rheodytes, the other member being the extinct form Rheodytes devisi. The species is endemic to south eastern Queensland, Australia and only found in tributaries of the Fitzroy River.

<i>Elseya uberrima</i> Extinct species of turtle

Elseya uberrima is a Pliocene species of extinct Australian snapping turtle.

<i>Myuchelys</i> Genus of turtles

The Myuchelys is a genus of turtles, the Australian saw-shelled turtles, in the family Chelidae and subfamily Chelodininae. They inhabit the headwaters and tributaries of rivers within their range and this led to the name Myuchelys, which is formed from the Aboriginal word myuna meaning clear water and the Greek chelys meaning turtle. They have a short neck and the intergular scute completely separates the gular scutes. They have no alveolar ridge separating them from the snapping turtles of the genus Elseya.

<i>Elseya albagula</i> Species of turtle

Elseya albagula, commonly known as the white-throated snapping turtle, is one of the largest species of chelid turtles in the world, growing to about 45 cm (18 in) carapace length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saw-shelled turtle</span> Species of turtle

The saw-shelled turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales, with populations also noted as far south as Newcastle -. They are thought to have been introduced to Lake Eacham in the Atherton Tablelands. Other common English names are: serrated snapping turtle or common sawshell turtle.

<i>Chelodina canni</i> Species of turtle

Chelodina canni, also known commonly as Cann's snake-necked turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, where it is found in the northern and northeastern parts of the continent. It has a narrow zone of hybridization with its related species the eastern snake-necked turtle, C. longicollis. For many years C. canni was assumed to be the same species as C. novaeguineae from New Guinea. However, in 2002 it was shown that these two species differ both morphologically and genetically, and therefore C. canni was separated and described as a unique species.

<i>Elseya dentata</i> Species of turtle

Elseya dentata, the northern snapping turtle, is a large aquatic turtle found throughout many rivers in northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is one of three species in the nominate subgenus Elseya.

<i>Elseya schultzei</i> Species of New Guinea turtle

Elseya schultzei, commonly known as Schultze's snapping turtle, is a species of chelid turtle endemic to northern New Guinea.

<i>Chelodina insculpta</i> Extinct species of turtle

Chelodina insculpta is an extinct species of snake-necked turtle that was described in 1897 from material gathered in Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia, restricted. It is a member of the Chelidae; Pleurodira. The fossil has been dated as Pliocene to Pleistocene.

<i>Elseya rhodini</i> Species of New Guinea turtle

Elseya rhodini, the southern New Guinea stream turtle, is a recently described aquatic species of chelid turtle found south of the central ranges of New Guinea. It inhabits small streams that flow into the major river drainage's south of the ranges.

Elseya flaviventralis, the yellow bellied snapping turtle, is a species of large river snapping turtles from the Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a member of the nominate subgenus Elseya.

References

  1. 1 2 White A, Archer M (1994). "Emydura lavarackorum, a new Pleistocene turtle (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from fluviatile deposits at Riversleigh, Northwestern Queensland". Records of the South Australian Museum. 27: 159–167.
  2. ↑ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 329. ISSN   1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 Georges A, Thomson S (2010). "Diversity of Australasian freshwater turtles, with an annotated synonymy and keys to species". Zootaxa2496: 1–37.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Thomson SA, White A, Georges A (30 June 1997). "Re-evaluation of Emydura lavarackorum: identification of a living fossil" (PDF). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 42: 327–336. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2008.
  5. ↑ Cann J (1998). Australian Freshwater Turtles. Singapore: Beaumont. 292 pp. ISBN   978-9810406868.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Woinarski, John (compiler) (May 2006). "Threatened Species of the Northern Territory: Gulf Snapping Turtle" (PDF). Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Northern Territory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  7. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Elseya lavarackorum, p. 152).
  8. ↑ Zimmer C (1997). "Shell Game" Discover Magazine, January 1997 Issue.
  9. 1 2 Thomson S, Georges A, Limpus C (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. PDF fulltext Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Thomson, Scott A.; Friol, Natália R.; White, Arthur; Wedd, Dion (2023). "The Australian gulf snapping turtle Elseya lavarackorum (Testudines: Chelidae) revisited – Is the late Pleistocene fossil species extant?". Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 237–256. ISSN   1864-5755.
  11. ↑ Thomson S, Amepou Y, Anamiato J, Georges A (2015). "A new species and subgenus of Elseya (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from New Guinea". Zootaxa4006 (1): 59-82. Preview (PDF)
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Approved Conservation Advice for Elseya lavarackorum (Gulf snapping turtle)" (PDF). Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Australia. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "Elseya lavarackorum – Gulf Snapping Turtle". Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 12 February 2010.
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