Rhodin, 1994a
Pritchard's snake-necked turtle
Recognition
The oval, chestnut-brown, rugose carapace (to 22.8 cm) has flared posterior marginals with smooth edges and depressed vertebrals. It is broadest behind the center, and a slight medial groove is present on some individuals. Adult vertebrals are broader than long; the 1st is the largest and broadest; vertebrals 5 and 4 are the shortest, respectively. No neural bones are present. The plastron is large, almost covering the entire carapacial opening, and it has a deep posterior notch. The forelobe is broader than the hindlobe. The plastral formula is intergul > an > abd > pect > fem > hum > gul; the intergular is twice as long as the interpectoral seam. Plastron, bridge, and undersides of the marginals are yellowish with dark seams. The head is somewhat narrow with a slightly upturned, protruding snout. The upper jaw is not notched. Dorsally the neck is covered with small rounded tubercles. Skin is grayish brown dorsally, cream ventrally.
Females are larger than males, and have small tails compared to the longer, thicker tail of males.
Distribution
Chelodina pritchardi is known only from the Kemp Welch watershed of southeastern Papua New Guinea.
Geographic Variation
Unknown.
Habitat
Presumably, the species is riverine.
Natural History
Rhodin (1994a) reported that a female laid four hard-shelled, white, oval eggs in captivity, and that another female contained one hard-shelled oviducal egg. These eggs measured 26.4-27.9 x 18.0-19.7 mm.
IUCN Red List Status (1996)
Vulnerable (D2). |
