Chelodina Species Overview and Conservation Status

Chelodina species are a type of turtle found in Australia and New Guinea. They are semi-aquatic, meaning they spend most of their time in or near water.

There are 12 recognized species of Chelodina, ranging in size from 20 to 45 centimeters in length. Some species, like the Chelodina canni, are relatively small, while others, like the Chelodina longicollis, can grow quite large.

The Chelodina species are generally considered to be of Least Concern status on the IUCN Red List, with some species, such as the Chelodina burrungandjari, listed as Vulnerable.

Classification is a crucial aspect of understanding Chelodina. The current taxonomy follows the work of Georges & Thomson, 2010, with updates from van Dijk et al. 2014 and Shea et al. 2020.

The Chelodina genus has several synonymous names, including Hydraspis, Chelyodina, and Hesperochelodina. The type species for the Chelodina subgenus is Chelodina longicollis.

The Chelodina genus is divided into three subgenera: Chelodina, Macrochelodina, and Macrodiremys. Chelodina is the largest subgenus, containing species such as Chelodina canni and Chelodina longicollis.

Here are the species within each subgenus:

These subgenera and species help us understand the diversity and complexity of the Chelodina genus.

The Chelodina genus is home to a diverse range of species, each with its unique characteristics and conservation status. Some of these species are listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, indicating they are not considered threatened at the moment.

The Cann's snake-necked turtle (Chelodina canni) and the Eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) are both classified as LC. These species are widely distributed and have adapted to different environments.

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi) is, however, considered Critically Endangered (CR) due to habitat loss and other human activities. This species is found only on Roti Island in Indonesia.

Here's a list of some of the Chelodina species:

Some species, like the New Guinea snake-necked turtle (Chelodina novaeguineae) and the Steindachner's long-necked turtle (Chelodina steindachneri), are also listed as LC. This indicates a relatively stable population and no immediate conservation concerns.

The Giant snake-necked turtle (Chelodina expansa) is another species that is widely distributed and has a stable population, also classified as LC.

There are three identified extinct species of Chelodina. The †Chelodina alanrixide was described in 2001 using material gathered in Redbank Plains, Queensland, Australia, and has been dated to the Eocene Epoch.

†Chelodina insculptade is an extinct species of snake-necked turtle that was described in 1897 from material gathered in Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia, restricted. Its fossil has been dated as Pliocene to Pleistocene.

†Chelodina murrayi is an extinct species of snake-necked turtle from the Waite Formation on the Alcoota Scientific Reserve, north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. It appears to belong to the Chelodina novaeguineae group of species within the subgenus Chelodina.

Here are the extinct species of Chelodina: