Natural History: eastern long-necked turtle

 On the field trip on March 15th to the ARC, we encountered the Chelodina, common name is the eastern /snake long-necked turtle. The family is Chelidae.  Observing the turtle it was resting all the way at the bottom of the tub of water inside the plant sanctuary. It appeared to be startled by its non eyelids and pastel yellow pupils. The shell of the Chelodina was smooth which would allow water to flow over the shell freely. The shell is light brown to black. The head, neck and limbs are gray to brown. It also has webbed feet and claws. The males are typically smaller than the females and have a longer tail. On the field trip this particular Chelodina was a male. It is known as semi-aquatic but it was only in a tub of water not like the other turtles that were in the outside tubs without water. The Chelodina burrow under leaves and can be dormant when it gets too hot or dry, which justifies the reasoning for the placement of the Chelodina during spring time in Charleston! Natively they are southeastern Australia, inhabiting streams, rivers, also slow moving water like swamps or wetlands. They spend most of their time at the bottom of waterbodies. Interestingly they are carnivores that prey on invertebrates, fish and plankton or terrestrial insects. As a defense mechanism it produces a smell from their glands that can spray up to 3 feet. Overall the experience of viewing the snake was neat because of how far it can stretch out its neck and also as the tour guide tilt the turtle to the side its head went to the other side and folded in. Unlike other turtles this is a pleurodire which means it bend its head sideway into its shell rather than pulling it directly back.