Red-bellied short-necked turtle

Description

The red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa), also known commonly as the pink-bellied side-necked turtle and the Jardine River turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. There are two recognized subspecies. E. subglobosa, a hard-shelled chelid, is more colorful than most of its relatives. E. subglobosa lives in freshwater rivers and swamps, and also in lagoons and lakes. E. subglobosa is found in northern Queensland, Australia, and in southern Papua New Guinea. The red-bellied short-necked turtle is popular as a pet. A 75-gallon or larger aquarium is used to house this species. In captivity, it feeds on fish, commercial turtle pellets, and plant matter. Due to Australia's ban of exporting wild-caught animals, all wild-caught individuals are from New Guinea. In Florida in the United States, E. globosa had been bred to supply the market. Hong Kong and Taiwan had also bred the red-bellied short-necked turtle. Emydura, the Australian short-necked turtles, are a genus of turtles in the family Chelidae. It was paraphyletic with Elseya. Consequently, it was split into two genera Myuchelys and Elseya by Thomson & Georges, 2009. They can grow quite large, 30 cm or more is not unusual and have a life span of around 20–30 years. They generally do not hibernate as their warmer climate lets them remain active all year round; they also spend more time in the water than other varieties. They are considered omnivore but rely on a constant supply of meat to remain healthy, feeding on basically anything that will fit into their mouth. They are characterised by a white strip starting at their nose and leading down their neck, as well as a more rigged shell. In Australia, the public require a basic reptiles licence to purchase these animals; taking from the wild is strictly prohibited.