Krefft's Turtle

Krefft's Turtle

Daniel Duncan-Year 7 Science Classification Assessment

Structural Feature #2

Shell Shape

Krefft's turtles shell is a defining characteristic. It is oblong, with olive-brown to blackish-brown carapace and blueish-green tinged plastron underneath.

Classification

Similar color schemes are seen between a wasp, a dangerous insect and Krefft's turtle

Adaption #2

Structural Feature #3

Yellow Facial Stripes

Krefft's turtles' facial stripes are both a key identification point and an important adaption. These stripes ward of predators. How? In nature, colors such as bright yellows and reds on an animal mean that the animal is dangerous. Krefft's turtle may not be dangerous but it has adapted this color scheme to ward predators away.

Short-Neck

Krefft's turtle has a short neck. Although this is not a defining feature for identification, it is essential for accurate identification.

Sequence:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Suborder: Pleurodira

Family: Chelidae

Genus: Emydura

Species: krefftii

Common & Scientific Name

Common:

• Krefft's River Turtle
• Krefft's Short-necked Turtle
• Krefft’s Turtle

Scientific: Chelymys krefftii

Structural Feature #1

As most reptile eggs are leathery, rather than hard, this adaption is unique to crocodiles and turtles.

Turtles also bury their eggs, further enhancing longevity of the egg

Location & Habitat

Turtles have had to adapt their eggs due to birds and small mammals feeding on the eggs.

Adaption #1

Location:

-Eastern Side of the Great Dividing Range, Brisbane-Princess Charlotte Bay, Queensland, Australia

Habitat:

-Larger permanent rivers

-Swamps

-River overflows

-Lagoons

Conservation Status

Yellow Facial Stripes

Krefft's turtle is the only turtle East of the Great Dividing Range that has facial stripes, which are bright to pale yellow in color. The stripes extend back from the eye to the ear (tympanum).

Protected/Least Concern-

Krefft's Turtle is protected in Australia and cannot be collected from the wild.

Hard, Small Eggs

The eggs are hard-shelled and quite small, being around 33x21mm and weighing approximately 7g. This is an important adaption as having small, hard eggs means that they are harder to find and if they are found, they are hard to break. This means survival of future generations of Krefft’s Turtle.

Bibliography

• Cann, John. Australian Freshwater Turtles. [Singapore]: [Beaumont Pub.], 1998. Print.

• Cogger, Harold G. Reptiles & Amphibians Of Australia. Ithaca, N.Y.: Comstock/Cornell, 1992. Print.

• Ehmann, H. 1992. Encyclopaedia of Australian Animals: Reptiles. Angus & Robertson. Pymble. Print.

• Greer, A. E. 2006. Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles : Chelidae. Australian Museum. Print.

• "Turtle Information V3". turtlesat.org. Web. 28 July 2016.

• "Kreffts Turtle". reptileone.com. Web. 26 July 2016.

• "TURTLE UPDATE!". YouTube. Web. 27 July 2016. (for close up images)

• Bartlett, R. D and Patricia Bartlett. Turtles And Tortoises. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1996. Print.
• Wilke, Hartmut. Tortoises And Box Turtles. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's Educational Series, 2000. Print.