Bellinger River Snapping Turtle - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Myuchelys georgesi

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 22 Apr 2016

Profile last updated: 13 Sep 2021

Description

A short-necked freshwater turtle. For detailed description see Cann (1998), Cogger (2014) and Cann et al. (2015). The species was previously known as Elseya georgesi, and is referred to as Wollumbinia georgesi in some publications.

Distribution

Endemic to the Bellinger Catchment on the north coast of NSW

Habitat and ecology

Habitat preference is for moderate to deep pools with a rocky substrate (Spencer et al. 2007)
Diet is largely omnivorous, with a tendency toward carnivory (Allanson and Georges 1999)
The species is able to supplement its oxygen uptake through cloacal breathing, reducing its need to come to the water surface to breathe (King and Heatwole 1994)

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

NSW North Coast

Threats

A disease outbreak in early 2015 was responsible for the death of a large proportion of the population. A new virus is thought to be associated with the disease.
Prior to the disease outbreak, the species was only known from a 60 km stretch of the Bellinger River.
Hybridisation is known to occur with the Murray River turtle Emydura macquarii.
Predation of nests and nesting females by foxes.
A small number of animals are known to remain in the wild.
Very few adults remain in the wild. The ability of the species to recover from the mass mortality event of 2015 is limited.
The way in which the existing threats interact with each other and impact on the species in the long term remains unknown.
Very little is known about the virus thought to be responsible for the disease.
Threat from competition with native species is to be investigated.
Areas of habitat become unsuitable for occupation by the species.
Poaching of animals.
Riparian zone degradation. This includes removal of riparian vegetation and the resulting colonisation by introduced weeds.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Establish and maintain a captive breeding population
Continue to monitor the wild population
Promote the role of a healthy river in the species recovery
Promote the need to 'Keep a Clean Routine' to prevent the spread of the virus into other catchments
Support research on the interaction of the species with the Murray River Turtle
Support research into the virus believed to be responsible for the mass mortality of 2015
Support river health and protection projects in the Bellinger Catchment
Undertake long term planning for reintroduction of captive bred animals back into the wild
Report sick or dead turtles in the Bellinger Catchment to the OEH Environment Line

Information sources

Cogger. H.G. (2014) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 7th Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast

Coffs Coast and Escarpment

Known

Bellinger River and Rosewood River

Images

Adult Bellinger River Snapping Turtle. Image 1 of 2.
View slideshow.

Related information

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