Eastern Snakeneck Turtle

The Eastern Snakeneck Turtle or Eastern Longneck lives in ponds, lakes and streams of Eastern Australia.

The Snakenecks are semi-aquatic turtles, that live partly in the water and partly on land and can be seen sitting on rocks and wood basking in the sun. Their neck are often as long as their carapax and there name is derived from its snake-like look.

Apart from their long necks, Eastern Snakeneck Turtles also have webbed feet which are used for swimming and digging.

The Snakeneck Turtle is part of our 2012 special exhibit "Turtle Shelter!" >

Things to Do

Watch the Eastern Snakeneck Turtle swimming or sun-bathing.
Discover the black-edged scutes.
Can you notice that the neck is as long as its carapace?

These turtles can sometimes be found in freshwater drainage canals and in water hazards on golf courses!
Eastern Snakeneck Turtles do not retract their heads vertically into their carpax but bend their heads sideways into a skin flap at the side of their shell.
When it feels threatened this turtle can emit a smelly liquid from its musk glands. It is sometimes referred to as “stinker” in Australia.

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