Freshwater Turtles in the Corowa Region

Community awareness and engagement in local native turtle conservation.

Corowa District Landcare with support from Murray Local Land Services have produced this video to help increase landholder and community awareness of freshwater turtles in our local region. It features turtle experts: Graham Stockfeld from Turtles Australia Inc and Dr James Van Dyke from LaTrobe University. Graham & James identify the three freshwater turtle species in the Corowa region and talk about their ecology and threats. This video also shows how everyone can get involved to help protect and conserve our freshwater turtles.

This project was made possible through funding from Catchment Action NSW & the NSW Landcare Program (CDL Landcare Coordinator). A special thanks also to Darren Grigg from Grigg Media.

Please click on the video below.

Australian Freshwater Turtles

There are three species of freshwater turtles in the Corowa Region:

  1. Murray River Turtle

  2. Broad-shelled Turtle

  3. Eastern Long Neck Turtle.

All three species are found in our creeks and rivers, with the Eastern Long Neck Turtles also commonly found in farm dams and wetlands.

Due to threats such as the widespread drought, fox predation and human activities, evidence suggests that many freshwater turtle species are in decline in Australia. Other threats to freshwater turtles include draining swamps and wetlands, pollution and disease.

Corowa District Landcare would like to encourage the local community to help protect our freshwater turtles. People can help by tracking turtle populations using the TurtleSAT app to record turtle or nest sightings they come across. Its easy! Just download the app onto your mobile phone, then register and create a login. You can zoom into your local area, click the pin button or place a marker on the map, then just click to add a sighting. For more information visit the TurtleSAT website.

How to protect turtle nests from predation

Nests of these species are generally close to water, but can be up to 1 km distant, often up higher along the riverbank or in a paddock. The female will dig a hole and lay anywhere between 5 and 30 eggs, although more typically 10-15. The nests are hard to spot unless you witness the turtle laying or spy a fox hunting for eggs, digging in the ground. Generally, all that is obvious is a recently dug up small patch of dirt, in a grassed area. Over 90% of turtle nests are predated by foxes or other animals. You can help prevent this loss by protecting any nests you become aware of. To protect the nest you simply place a piece of mesh over it and peg it firmly down at the corners. Corowa District Landcare have nest protection kits available. Contact email - admin@corowalandcare.com.au. For more information go to the Turtle Australia Website.

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Broad-shelled Turtle

(Chelodina expansa)

This is the largest freshwater turtle in Australia, with a shell measuring up to 485mm long. It looks rather like the eastern long-necked turtle but has a flatter head and a narrower plastron without black margins on the shields. Despite its large size it is seldom seen, as it has secretive habits and rarely emerges from the water. In NSW it occurs at lower altitudes in the Murray-Darling river system. It is also a carnivore, but generally feeds on larger prey than the eastern long-necked turtle, such as shrimps and yabbies. It lies in wait and uses its long neck to strike out and catch fast-moving prey.

(Sourced from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, see references for website link)

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Eastern long-neck Turtle

(Chelodina longicollis)

This is the most widespread species, occurring in water bodies throughout NSW with the exception of the highest parts of the Alps. It is easily distinguished by its wide plastron (the under part of the shell), made up of pale yellow shields with black margins. It is often seen crossing roads, where unfortunately it is frequently killed by motor vehicles. When handled it exudes a smelly secretion that helps to repel predators. It is a carnivorous species, feeding mostly on small invertebrates such as worms, snails and insect larvae, including mosquitoes.

(Sourced from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, see references for website link)

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Murray River Turtle

(Emydura macquarii)

This turtle occurs in all but the coldest parts of the Murray-Darling River system. It is also found in coastal NSW rivers, from the Queensland border to the Sydney region. Its eye has a bright yellow iris and it has a single cream or yellowish streak along the side of its head and neck. Young animals sometimes have pale yellow spots behind the eyes. The plastron is a uniform cream or pale yellow. The Murray River turtle is often seen basking on logs in the sun. It is an omnivore and eats large amounts of water plants and algae as well as invertebrates.

(Sourced from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, see references for website link)