Oblong turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oblong turtle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chelodina
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| Species: |
oblonga
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The oblong turtle (Chelodina oblonga) is a special kind of turtle. It's also called the narrow-breasted snake-necked turtle or the southwestern snake-necked turtle. This turtle lives only in the southwestern part of Western Australia.
Most people think turtles are quiet, but the oblong turtle is different! It can make many different sounds. These turtles have also been successfully bred in zoos, like the Cologne Zoological Garden.
About the Name
The scientific name for this turtle, colliei, was given to honor a Scottish doctor and nature expert named Alexander Collie.
Turtle Family Tree
The way scientists name and group animals can be quite tricky! For a long time, there was some confusion about the oblong turtle's name.
Early on, a scientist named John Edward Gray described two different snake-necked turtles. One lived in northern Australia, and the other in southwestern Australia. But later, some scientists thought they were the same species.
Over the years, many experts studied these turtles again. They used new methods, like looking at the turtles' DNA. This helped them figure out which name belonged to which turtle.
Finally, in recent years, scientists like Kehlmaier and Shea helped clear up the confusion. They confirmed that the name Chelodina oblonga is for the southwestern snake-necked turtle. The northern snake-necked turtle is now called Chelodina rugosa. This shows how much work goes into understanding animal families!
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga de cuello de serpiente del suroeste para niños
