Western swamp turtle

The Western swamp turtle is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

* Countries in which the the Short-Necked Or Western Swamp turtle is known to occur: Australia More

the Western Swamp Turtle, is a short-necked freshwater tortoise that monotypically represents the sub-family Pseudemydurinae. More

The western swamp turtle is active during the Australian winter and spring when the ephemeral swamps it inhabits contain water; it aestivates during the summer and autumn (November to early June) when these habitats are dry (Kuchling and Bradshaw, 1993). More

The Western swamp turtle is facing extinction in the wild and was placed on CITES Appendix I in July, 1975 which at present precludes what I propose here. More

western swamp turtle uses her forelimbs to dig a chamber, which she then enters to deposit her eggs. Researchers in Australia have discovered that, while completely submerged, the female northern snakeneck (Chelodina rugosa) lays her eggs in the muddy bottom of temporary ponds. More

The plastron, or undershell, of the western swamp turtle is paler than the carapace and extremely broad (2); it often has a pattern of black spots on a yellow background (4). The short legs are covered with bony plates and the feet are clawed (4). More

The western swamp turtle, which hibernates for nearly eight months of the year in response to dry conditions and hot temperatures, may be the most threatened freshwater turtle species in the world, although a successful conservation program has allowed its numbers to increase. More

The western swamp turtle is a small sideneck whose 5.5 in (14 cm) flat, rectangular carapace has smooth posterior margins and a medial depression. The posterior marginals are elevated over the tail and the surface of the scutes is wrinkled and leathery. More

Western swamp turtles were thought to be extinct, because none had been seen for over 50 years. However, in 1953 a Perth schoolboy brought one to a pet show. A conservationist was there, and the turtle was unfamiliar to him so he investigated further. More

Common names

Länsiaustraliankäärmeenkaulakilpikonna in Finnish - suomen kieli
Onechte spitskopschildpad in Dutch - Nederlands
Pseudémydure de perth in French - français
Tortue à col court in French - français
Tortuga serpentina occidental in Spanish - español
Western short-necked turtle in English - English
western swamp turtle in English - English
Черепаха западная болотная in Russian - русский язык