The White-bellied Snapping Turtle, a large Australasian side-necked turtle inhabiting southern New Guinea.
Lineage: Turtles and Tortoises (TESTUDINES) > Side-necked Turtles (PLEURODIRA) > Austro-American Side-necked Turtles Superfamily (CHELOIDEA) > Austro-American Side-necked Turtles (CHELIDAE) > Australasian Short-necked Turtles Subfamily (EMYDURINAE) > Australian Snapping Turtles (Elseya) > Australian Snapping Turtles Subgenus (Elseya (Elseya)) > Southern New Guinea Snapping Turtle (Elseya (Elseya) branderhorsti). This path helps place the taxon within its family, genus, or species-level context.
Plate page 62
Chinese Name
白胸齿缘龟
English Name
Southern New Guinea Snapping Turtle
Scientific Name
Elseya (Elseya) branderhorsti
Rank
Species
Plate notes
Elseya branderhorsti
Trivia
Originally described as Emydura branderhorsti; later transferred to genus Elseya. The neotype was designated from the Bensbach River, Papua New Guinea.
Overview
The White-bellied Snapping Turtle, a large Australasian side-necked turtle inhabiting southern New Guinea.
Scientific Name
Elseya branderhorsti
Ecological Habits
Aquatic, inhabiting rivers and swamps of the Trans-Fly region. Snapping turtle, ambushing prey; diet includes fish, invertebrates, and carrion.
Major Threats & Conservation
Listed as Vulnerable due to limited range, habitat degradation from agriculture and mining, and potential overharvesting for food. Protected areas and monitoring needed.
Morphological Characteristics
Large size: male up to 40.2 cm SCL, female up to 48.1 cm SCL. Distinctive white or cream-colored plastron (belly), dark carapace. Head large with strong jaws.
Natural Distribution & Conservation Status
Distributed in southern Papua New Guinea and adjacent Papua, Indonesia. IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (VU). TFTSG Provisional Red List: Vulnerable.
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