An Australian snake-necked turtle stretching its long neck in shallow water. — Photo: John Wombey, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Australian Snake-necked Turtle

Chelodina longicollis

A southeastern Australian turtle whose neck can be more than half as long as its shell.

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About the Australian Snake-necked Turtle

Australian snake-necked turtles grow up to 11 inches long, and the neck can be more than half the length of the shell. They are dark gray or brown with a yellow or cream underside and webbed feet. They live in southeastern Australia, including the whole Murray-Darling Basin, mostly in slow water like swamps. They eat invertebrates, fish, plankton and insects.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Chelodina longicollis^[1]
Size: Up to 11 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: Into their 30s.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Invertebrates, fish, plankton and insects.^[1]
Habitat: Slow water such as swamps, plus streams and rivers.^[1]
Where it lives: Southeastern Australia, including the Murray-Darling Basin.^[1]
Babies: Up to 3 clutches a year of 8 to 24 eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Not evaluated by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

Its neck can be more than half as long as its shell.^[1]
It sucks in prey by creating a vacuum in its throat.^[1]
It goes dormant under leaves when it's too hot or dry.^[1]

Vocabulary

estivate: To rest in a sleep-like state during hot or dry weather.
carapace: The top part of a turtle's shell.
plankton: Tiny living things that drift in water.
cold-blooded: Having a body temperature that changes with the surroundings; also called ectothermic.
carnivore: An animal that eats mostly meat.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Reptile Discovery CenterSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Australian snake-necked turtle.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/australian-snake-necked-turtle (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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