Cann, J. 1997. The Northern Yellow Faced Turtle. Monitor (1997)9(1):24-29; 34-35.
Emydura tanybaraga sp. nov. Holotype A.M.R125498 Collected by A. Georges
Emydura tanybaraga are present in numerous lagoons, swamps
and billabongs and there are distinctive morphological forms throughout what
is referred to as the top end. I would expect that in a region such as this where the country is not
split by mountain ranges and the rivers can extend greatly across the flood plains during the
wet season, that the turtles would a11 be similar. Many rivers exit to the sea in low swampy flood
plains and some rivers have a common ground however, this does not appear to be the case.
Many of the yellow-faced turtles of the 'top end' have distinctively different carapace texture,
some are smooth while others are quite sulcated, occasionally from the same river. It appears to be
age related. However, I have not seen many of these turtles except for the occasional specimens
while sampling for photographs, or those which are in zoological collections. Unfortunately often
when this is the case, locations are not always known, although distinctive differences are at
times noticed.
The largest of the turtles captured at Girraween Lagoon measured 221 mm, but there was no
indication of megacephaly. These lagoon turtles are smooth on the carapace shields, and they lack
the spots or blotches which are well defined on those from the McKinley and Daly Rivers. The
temporal markings on the Girraween Emydura are a dull yellow and eyen before old age are
virtually nonexistent, while those from the McKinley and Daly Rivers have an attractive
yellow band which is also slightly brighter than the Pul Pul Creek specimens from the South
Alligator.
At the eastern extremity of the range of Emydura tanybaraga is the apparently disjunct populations
of the Mitchell River. At the location from which Georges and Adams genetic samples were
collected the river has good stretches of diveable water which flows well into the dry season.
Although not numerous the Emydura can always be found by diving with a little persistence.
Elseya latisternum were in the larger numbers. Drum net traps were set over night and only the
later form were collected.
Acknowledgments
Many people and organisations have helped me with this species of turtle. Foremost is Arthur
Georges and Scott Thompson, both of the University of Canberra, A.C.T.; Rod Kennett
from the University of the Northern Territory and Paul Horner of the Northern Territory Museum;
Mark Casey, Andrea and Pat Anderson of the Daly River region assisted in fieldwork. Special
thanks also to my artist friends Colin South and Ian Smales.
References
Smith, A. and Wood, T. (1985) 'A Nest and Hatchlings of Emydura victoriae (Gray 1842)' North. Territ.
Nat., Darwin No. 8: 3 - 4
Cann, J. (1972) Notes on Some Tortoises Collected in Northern Australia', Victorian Naturalist, Melbourne
89 (6): 165 - 168
Cogger, H. G. (1 975) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia ', A.H. & A. W. Reed,
Sydney Pp 1 - 608
Legler, J. (1981) The Ecology of Freshwater Turtles in the Alligator Rivers Repon. Open File Record (66)
Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region
Georges & Kennett, (per. comm.)
Georges, A. & Adams, M. (1992) 'A phylogeny of the Australian Chelid Turtles based on Allozyme
Electrophoresis', Aust. J . Zool., Vol. 40, NO. 5: 453 - 476.