Manning River Turtle
image copyright Gary Stephenson
About the Manning River Turtle
The Manning River turtle, Myuchelys purvisi (also known as the Manning River helmeted turtle, Manning River snapping turtle, and Purvis’ turtle), is a 55 million old reptile endemic to the middle and upper catchment areas of the Manning River in NSW, Australia. That means it is found nowhere else in the world.
The Manning River turtle is somewhat similar in appearance to the Bellinger River turtle. It is a medium-sized short-necked freshwater turtle. The NSW Scientific Committee’s final determination in April 2017 to list the turtle as an endangered species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 describes it as being:
“… brown above, but is usually quite bright yellow below, except in large older individuals. Usually a distinct yellow stripe from the angle of the jaws, especially in the young, while the underside of the tail has distinctive yellow markings: a bright yellow stripe from median plastron notch to anus; another stripe on each side of the tail slopes down to also reach the anus; and there is a bright yellow patch under the tip of the tail.”
image copyright Gary Stephenson
′Purvis turtle′ by Peter Schouten AM
Little is known about the Manning River turtle beyond it’s diet, habitat and reproductive behaviour. The species is “data deficient” due to being poorly studied.
Population size and numbers are not known, however researchers suggest populations are fragmented and the abundance of Manning River turtles in recent years has declined dramatically.
The Manning River turtle is highly sought after by turtle fanciers as it is widely regarded as Australia’s most beautiful looking turtle, meaning poaching (illegal collecting) is a problem. As the turtle is an endangered species, it is illegal to keep them as a pet in NSW. It is also illegal to capture or breed the turtle.
Predation, mainly by foxes, feral pigs and goannas. is a major threat to the turtle. in similar turtles the predation rate of turtle eggs by foxes is up to 90 per cent. Juvenile turtles are also preyed upon by fish. Habitat degradation and destruction, potential disease (as in the Bellinger turtle), and potential competition and hybridisation with the Macquarie turtle (E. macquarii) are also cited as threats.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is currently collecting data on the turtle by doing surveys for the Save our Species program.
For more information on the Manning River turtle see the links below the videos.