Turtles


Australia is home to about 23 species of freshwater turtle. All but one of these species belong to the family Chelidae, which is found only in Australasia and South America. These long-, snake-, or side-necked turtles retract their head and neck beneath their shell by folding it to one side, rather than drawing their head backwards as most of the world’s species of turtles and tortoises do.

Australia also has six species of marine turtles but lacks the truly land-based tortoises that occur on all other continents except Antarctica. Only three marine turtles occur regularly in Sydney waters, the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead and the Leatherback.

North American species of freshwater turtles have also been found in the Sydney region, probably as a result of people releasing imported pets into local waterways.


Turtles

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Discussion

12 Oct 2025
Looks most like a Saw-shelled Turtle (Elseya latisternum) aka Myuchelys latisternum in some references, due to the short neck, relatively large head, prominent, pointed tubercles on the top and sides of its head and neck and what appears to be a large distinctive head shield, that is entire and extends in part down the parietal arch toward the tympanum. This latter feature is absent in Emydura macquarii, which is the other short-necked turtle contender in this area.

Elseya latisternum
HelenCross wrote:
24 Aug 2025
:(

Chelodina longicollis
26 Jun 2025
This specimen (assuming all photos are of the same individual) looks to be female, judging by the relatively small tail.

Myuchelys purvisi
MB wrote:
6 Apr 2025

Chelonia mydas
6 Apr 2025
@MB Was the turtle dead or badly injured?
It looks like propeller lacerations on the carapace.

Chelonia mydas
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