# Eastern long-necked turtle (*Chelodina longicollis*) The Eastern long-necked turtle is a special turtle with a very long neck! It loves to swim and can often be found in rivers and ponds, poking its head out of the water to breathe. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Australian long-necked turtle, Long-necked turtle ![Eastern long-necked turtle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/CSIRO_ScienceImage_7775_Eastern_Snakenecked_Turtle.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Wombey, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CSIRO_ScienceImage_7775_Eastern_Snakenecked_Turtle.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern long-necked turtle has a distinctive very long, snake-like neck and a flattened, oval-shaped shell. Its shell is typically dark olive to brown, while its underside is pale cream to yellow. Its long neck is key to distinguishing it from other freshwater turtles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Family:** Chelidae - **Genus:** Chelodina ## Interesting facts - Some turtles, like this one, can breathe underwater by absorbing oxygen through their bum (cloaca)! - Their long, snake-like neck can be nearly as long as their shell itself! - They can "play dead" by going completely limp and even releasing a stinky fluid! - Unlike most turtles, they can't pull their head into their shell; they fold it sideways! ## Special abilities - **Neck Grab:** The Eastern long-necked turtle can rapidly extend its long neck to snatch unsuspecting fish or tadpoles because of its flexible vertebrae. - **Smelly Defense:** Eastern long-necked turtles can release a foul-smelling liquid from glands near their legs that helps them deter predators. - **Camouflage Shell:** Eastern long-necked turtles have a flattened, textured shell that helps them blend perfectly with muddy riverbeds and aquatic plants. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 4 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 8-20 - **Incubation:** 70-130 days ## Diet & Feeding This carnivorous turtle mostly ambushes and eats small aquatic animals like insects, tadpoles, and fish. - **Age differences:** Juveniles may consume a higher proportion of aquatic insect larvae and smaller invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic insects, Tadpoles, Small fish, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes prey on turtle eggs and hatchlings. - **Eaten by:** [White-faced Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-faced-heron) (*Ardea novaehollandiae*) — Herons may catch juvenile turtles in shallow water. - **Eats:** Mosquito Fish (*Gambusia holbrooki*) — Turtles actively hunt and consume these small fish. - **Eats:** Striped Marsh Frog (*Limnodynastes peronii*) — Turtle preys on tadpoles of this common frog. - **Eats:** Common Yabby (*Cherax destructor*) — Turtles forage for and consume these freshwater crustaceans. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch turtles from a distance and don't try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern long-necked turtle? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern long-necked turtle? 18-25 cm ### How much does Eastern long-necked turtle weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Eastern long-necked turtle live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Eastern long-necked turtle move? 5 km/h ### What does Eastern long-necked turtle eat? This carnivorous turtle mostly ambushes and eats small aquatic animals like insects, tadpoles, and fish. ### How fast can Eastern long-necked turtle swim? 4 km/h ### Where is Eastern long-necked turtle usually found? Wetlands ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Eastern long-necked turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-long-necked-turtle)