Chelodina Novaeguineae

New Guinea Snake Turtle

About Me

Their long neck resembles a snake, which is where they get their name from. New Guinea Snake turtles are found in north-eastern Australia, Indonesia & Papua New Guinea inhabiting freshwater locales where their dark exterior helps them blend with their dark & murky surroundings of the rivers they inhabit.

What i do when i'm not here

They spend the majority of their time walking on the substrate of their habitat instead of swimming, preferring to ambush their prey from the mud & aquatic vegetation they lay dormant in. When resting, it twists its serpentine long neck to the side for protection instead of withdrawing it into its shell.

Weight

Up to 3kg

Size

Up to 36cm

Lifespan

15-30 years

Diet

Fish, & other small aquatic animals

Habitat

They are largely distributed along slow moving bodies of water such as rivers where aquatic vegetation & prey is rife. They are endemic to north-eastern Australia, Indonesia & Papua New Guinea.