Murray River Turtle

The Murray River Turtle also known as the Macquarie turtle or Murray short-necked turtle, has a shell that is predominantly medium to dark brown above, and cream coloured below. The male has a much fatter and longer tail than the female. The skin is greyish and there is a distinctive creamy-yellow stripe running back along the side of the head from the corner of the mouth. The eyes are small and yellow with a round black pupil.

The Murray River Turtle is found primarily in the Murray River Basin and all its major tributaries, along with a number of coastal rivers up the New South Wales Coast. It is also found in the coastal Queensland Rivers and the Cooper Creek Ecosystem, along with Fraser Island.

Up to 50 years.

30cm in length. Males can weigh up to 2.2kgs and females sometimes exceed 4kgs.

The Murray River Turtle feeds on mostly molluscs and crustaceans but will also consume carrion. Adults tend to eat a large proportion of vegetable matter such as fruits and water plants.

The Murray River Turtle commonly inhabits the Murray-Darling River system in south-eastern Australia but can be found in larger rivers and permanent lakes in this region.

In spring and summer, about 10 elongated eggs are laid in a burrow close to the river. They hatch about 80 days later. The eggs and newborn hatchlings face a long list of predators that include goannas, rats, foxes, birds, cats and wild pigs. Adult turtles have few natural enemies.

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