Namoi River snapping turtle facts for kids
The Namoi River snapping turtle (Myuchelys bellii), also known as Bell's turtle, is a special type of turtle. It belongs to a family of turtles called Chelidae. This turtle is found only in New South Wales, Australia, which means it's endemic to that area.
Quick facts for kids Namoi River snapping turtle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myuchelys
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| Species: |
bellii
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| Synonyms | |
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Namoi River snapping turtle is the biggest turtle in its group, the Myuchelys genus. Adult males can grow up to 22.7 centimeters (about 9 inches) long. Females are even bigger, reaching up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) in shell length.
Shell and Color
These turtles are usually a plain light to dark brown color. Their top shell, called the carapace, has a wide oval shape. Young turtles have a bumpy or jagged back edge on their shell. This might smooth out as they get older.
The bottom shell, called the plastron, is a pale yellow. It often has dark patches or streaks.
Head and Limbs
The turtle has a noticeable shield on top of its head. This shield extends backward but doesn't quite touch the area where its ear would be.
Each front leg has five claws. The back legs have four claws each. The turtle also has a gray tail. This tail is shorter than half the length of its top shell.
Hatchlings
When they first hatch, these baby turtles are very small. Their shell length is usually around 2.6 centimeters (about 1 inch). Their shell width is about the same size.
Why Is It Called Bell's Turtle?
The scientific name for this turtle, bellii, and some of its common names, like Bell's turtle, are a tribute. They honor an English zoologist named Thomas Bell. A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals.
Where Does It Live?
The Namoi River snapping turtle lives in specific rivers in northern New South Wales, Australia. You can find them in the upper parts of the Namoi, Gwydir, Macdonald, and Severn Rivers.
