North-west Red Faced Turtle
Emydura australis Gray, J.E. (1841)
Common Name: North-west Red Faced Turtle
Hydraspis australis Gray, J.E. (1841). A catalogue of the species of reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some new species from Western Australia. Appendix E in Grey, G. Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, under the authority of Her Majesty’s Government. London: T. & W. Boone 2: 422-449 [445 pl 6].
Type data: holotype, BMNH 1947.3.4.36, from “Western Australia?”, but from Macquarie River, N.S.W.; corrected type locality provided by Gray, J.E. (1872). On the genus Chelymys and its allies from Australia. Pro. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1872: 504-514, referring to his original description.
Cogger (1985) sank this species on these grounds but subsequent analysis confirms that this is not Emydura macquarii but is from northern Western Australia (pers. data, Cann, 1996), we are of the opinion that it may be a senior synonym for Emydura victoriae, however, Cann (1996) believes it refers to a population of turtle from northern Western Australia. As we are not able to refute John Cann's claim at this stage we will recognise it.