The snake-necked turtle, also known as the eastern long-necked turtle, is a distinctive freshwater turtle native to eastern Australia, commonly found in slow-moving rivers, swamps, and ponds from Queensland to South Australia. It is easily recognized by its remarkably long neck, which can be nearly as long as its shell and folds sideways under the carapace—an identifying trait of the side-necked turtle family.
Adults typically grow to 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) in shell length, with a dark brown or black, smooth, oval-shaped carapace. The underside (plastron) is pale yellow with dark splotches. The neck is slender and snake-like, often extending dramatically as the turtle reaches for prey or surfaces to breathe. Their head is narrow with a pointed snout and strong jaw.
Snake-necked turtles are carnivorous ambush predators, feeding on aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles, small fish, crustaceans, and insects. Using a rapid strike and suction feeding technique, they extend their neck lightning-fast to grab prey, similar to a snake’s lunge.
They are mostly aquatic but will travel overland to find new water sources, especially after rains. When threatened, they release a pungent-smelling musk from their glands—earning them the nickname “stinker” among locals.
Reproduction is oviparous. Females lay 4–20 eggs in sandy soil or soft ground near water during summer. Hatchlings emerge after 3–5 months and are fully independent, equipped with long necks and keen instincts.
Snake-necked turtles are well adapted to seasonal environments and can survive dry spells by burrowing and estivatingin mud until water returns. Though still common in many areas, they face threats from habitat loss, road mortality, and predation by introduced species.
The snake-necked turtle’s scientific name is Chelodina longicollis, and it belongs to the family Chelidae.
Shell:
Snake-necked turtles, primarily referring to the Chelodina species of Australia and New Guinea, have a flattened, oval carapace that is usually dark brown to black with a smooth texture. The shell has a low dome and a broad, slightly serrated rear edge. The plastron (bottom shell) is lighter, often cream or yellowish, and relatively large compared to many other aquatic turtles.
Neck and Head:
Their most distinctive feature is their exceptionally long neck, which can be as long as or longer than the carapace. Unlike most turtles, snake-necked turtles cannot retract their head straight back into the shell; instead, they bend it sideways under the edge of the carapace—a characteristic of all side-necked turtles. The head is narrow, with a pointed snout and sharp, beak-like jaws.
Limbs:
They have strong, webbed limbs adapted for aquatic life. Their toes have large webbing, allowing them to swim efficiently in still or slow-moving waters. Claws are present and used for climbing and digging.
Tail:
The tail is short and unobtrusive, typically shorter than in many other turtles.
Size:
Length: Depending on species, adult snake-necked turtles measure 8 to 16 in (20 to 40 cm) in carapace length.
Weight: They typically weigh between 2 to 6.5 lbs (0.9 to 3 kg), though larger specimens have been recorded.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Females are generally larger than males, with broader carapaces and shorter tails. Males have longer, thicker tails and a more concave plastron.
Snake-necked turtles are unmistakable due to their serpentine necks, which they use like a whip to strike at prey. Their streamlined bodies and unique head-folding behavior reflect a high degree of specialization for life in freshwater wetlands and billabongs.
Mating Behavior:
Snake-necked turtles are solitary for most of the year and come together only to breed, typically during the warmer months of spring and early summer. Males initiate courtship by swimming alongside the female, nuzzling, and trailing her closely. Some species may exhibit head bobbing or neck displays during courtship.
Copulation:
Mating occurs in water. The male mounts the female’s back and uses his claws to grip her shell. Copulation may be brief or extended, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Nesting and Egg Laying:
After mating, the female leaves the water to search for soft, sandy or loamy soil—often along the edges of rivers, lakes, or swamps.
Clutch Size: Typically 6 to 25 eggs, depending on the species and size of the female.
Clutch Frequency: Most species lay one to two clutches per season.
Egg Shape and Size: Eggs are elongated and hard-shelled, measuring about 1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) in length.
Incubation:
Duration: Incubation lasts 90 to 150 days, highly influenced by temperature and humidity.
In some species, eggs may diapause (pause in development) if conditions become unfavorable.
Hatchlings:
Hatchlings emerge fully independent and head for water shortly after emerging from the nest.
Size at Birth: Typically 1.2 to 1.5 in (3 to 4 cm) in shell length.
They resemble miniature adults, complete with proportionally long necks.
Maturity:
Snake-necked turtles generally reach sexual maturity between 7 to 10 years, depending on the species, sex, and environmental conditions.
The reproductive strategy of snake-necked turtles—relatively large clutches, long incubation, and delayed maturity—reflects their adaptation to seasonal wetland ecosystems where water levels and breeding success are closely tied to rainfall patterns.
Lifespan in the Wild:
In their natural freshwater habitats—such as billabongs, swamps, rivers, and seasonal wetlands—snake-necked turtles generally live 20 to 30 years. Lifespan in the wild is influenced by environmental stability, drought cycles, predation, and human activity.
Lifespan in Captivity:
With proper care, snake-necked turtles can live significantly longer in captivity.
Average Captive Lifespan: 30 to 50 years
Some individuals have been known to live over 60 years in zoological institutions and long-term private care.
Threats to Longevity:
Habitat Loss: Wetland drainage, agricultural runoff, and water pollution degrade breeding and foraging areas.
Predation: Eggs and hatchlings are vulnerable to predation by birds, mammals, and invasive species like foxes and cats.
Road Mortality: Nesting females are at risk when crossing roads during breeding season.
Climate Variability: Drought and altered rainfall patterns can reduce nesting success and juvenile survival.
Pet Trade: Illegal collection for the exotic pet market can result in stress, disease, and reduced survival, especially for wild-caught individuals.
Snake-necked turtles’ long lifespans, delayed maturity, and dependence on seasonal wetlands make them especially sensitive to environmental disruption. Conservation of freshwater ecosystems is key to supporting healthy populations over the long term.
Diet:
Snake-necked turtles are carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic animal prey.
Primary Foods: Their diet includes fish, insects, aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, and occasionally mollusks.
They may also scavenge on carrion or consume amphibian eggs when available.
Feeding Behavior:
Snake-necked turtles are active ambush predators, using their elongated necks like a striking whip to lunge at prey with lightning speed.
They typically lie motionless in the water with their neck coiled, then rapidly extend the head and jaws to snatch or suction prey items.
Prey is often swallowed whole and alive, as they lack true chewing ability.
Foraging Times:
Most species are diurnal (active during the day), with feeding activity peaking in morning and late afternoon.
During the dry season or periods of low water, they may become less active or enter temporary dormancy.
Adaptations for Feeding:
Their sideways neck retraction allows them to coil their neck laterally and strike from surprising angles.
Powerful jaw muscles enable them to crush soft-shelled prey, while their keen eyesight helps with prey detection.
Captive Diet:
In captivity, they can be fed a mix of feeder fish, earthworms, insects, crustaceans, and occasional high-protein commercial turtle pellets. Overfeeding or an imbalanced diet can lead to obesity or shell deformities.
The snake-necked turtle’s rapid strike feeding method and aquatic hunting adaptations make it one of the most efficient and specialized predators among freshwater turtles, particularly well-suited to still or slow-moving water ecosystems.
Extreme Neck Length and Sideways Retraction:
The snake-necked turtle’s most distinctive feature is its extraordinarily long neck, which often matches or exceeds the length of its shell. Unlike most turtles that retract their heads straight back, snake-necked turtles are side-necked, folding their necks sideways under the shell. This anatomical trait is rare and shared only with other members of the Pleurodirasuborder.
Strike-and-Suction Feeding:
They are among the few turtles to use a strike-and-suction technique to capture prey. Their long necks function like a spring-loaded whip, allowing them to lunge with speed and precision. This feeding strategy is both visually striking and highly effective in murky, still waters.
Specialized Aquatic Lifestyle:
Snake-necked turtles are highly aquatic, often spending nearly all of their time in freshwater billabongs, swamps, and slow rivers. Their streamlined shells and webbed limbs enable them to glide effortlessly in the water, while their behaviors are finely tuned to seasonal wetland cycles.
Unique Breathing Behavior:
Some snake-necked species exhibit cloacal respiration—absorbing oxygen through their rear end—which allows them to stay submerged for extended periods. This rare adaptation further enhances their ability to thrive in oxygen-poor or stagnant water.
Australian and New Guinea Endemism:
The majority of snake-necked turtle species are endemic to Australia and New Guinea, making them a biogeographic rarity. They are especially well adapted to intermittent water bodies, capable of aestivating (dormancy) during dry spells and reactivating when rains return.
Unusual Egg Diapause:
In some species, eggs can enter a diapause, pausing development until favorable environmental conditions resume. This strategy increases hatchling survival in unpredictable climates and allows synchronization with wet seasons.
The snake-necked turtle’s serpentine anatomy, high-speed feeding, and exceptional aquatic specialization make it one of the most unusual and evolutionarily distinct turtles in the world.
The closest relatives to the snake-necked turtles (Chelodina species) are other members of the Chelidae family, particularly within the Pleurodira (side-necked) suborder.
This includes turtles like the Matamata (Chelus fimbriata) and New Guinea snake-necked turtles, which share the side-necked trait and similar aquatic adaptations.
Snake-necked turtles differ from most turtles in several key ways:
They have extraordinarily long necks used for whip-like strikes when feeding.
Unlike most turtles that retract their heads backward, they bend their necks sideways under the shell.
They are highly specialized aquatic hunters, relying on strike-and-suction feeding rather than grazing or scavenging.
Some species can perform cloacal respiration, allowing them to remain submerged longer than most freshwater turtles.
These traits make them one of the most evolutionarily distinct and specialized groups of freshwater turtles globally.
Snake-necked turtles are primarily found in Australia and New Guinea, particularly in freshwater wetlands and floodplain systems. Top national parks where sightings are possible include:
Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory, Australia)
Litchfield National Park (Northern Territory, Australia)
Djukbinj National Park (Australia)
Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (Queensland, Australia)
Wasur National Park (Papua, Indonesia – New Guinea region)
These parks feature seasonal wetlands, billabongs, and slow-moving streams—ideal habitats for observing snake-necked turtles in the wild.
