Cann, J. 1997. Georges Short-Neck Turtle. Monitor (1997)9(1):18-23.
Elseya georgesi sp. nov. Holotype A. M. R3 1721 Collected BY J. Cann 1971
Comment: This description was originally intended to be published in John's book that was published the following year. It is part of a series of three descriptions. Scott Thomson (2006)
HISTORY
The first record of turtles other than Chelodina longicollis occurring in the Bellinger River was
in 1971 when I collected four specimens described here, near Thora on the Bellinger River. Some of these
specimens were lodged with the Australian Museum in Sydney (Cann, 1972) and a photograph was published in
my book Tortoises of Australia (1 978). Legler also mentioned them briefly in 198 1 as 'Elseya
sp.'. Allozyme electrophoresis analysis by Georges and Adams (1992) indicates that this turtle is a
sibling species to the Elseya sp., from the Manning River.
TYPE DATA
Holotype: A. M. R3 1721 adult female, measuring 222 mm carapace length, collected by J. Cann in 1971 in
the Bellinger River 30°25'S, 152°46'E. Paratypes: A. M. R3 1719 adult male; A. M. R143552 (shell);
Q.M.559430 (formerly A.M. R31720) adult female; Q.M. 559425 (formerly A.M. R31722) adult male. All
paratypes same data as holotype.
ETYMOLOGY
This turtle's name is dedicated to Dr Arthur Georges, of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
DIAGNOSIS
Elseya georgesi is a moderately large species of turtle known only from the Bellinger River and
its tributaries on the northeast coast of New South Wales. This species is most similar to Elseya
purvisi wells & Wellington and those species of Elseya currently included in, or allied
to Elseya latisternum. It can be distinguished from E. latisternum and Elseya
sp. from the Namoi River by the presence of a pale (yellow in life) band of colour on the side of the head
and neck, a marbled light plastron with a greenish blue tinge, unlike E. puwisi which is
predominantly yellow, and the absence of a central groove on the carapace. It is most similar to
Elseya purvisi from the Manning River, and can only readily be distinguished by the pattern of
colour on the throat and tail. E. georgesi does not have a dark marking running down the centre
of the throat or tail, whereas in E. puwisi these features are present.
DESCRIPTION
The hatchlings of this species are among the most striking and attractive in Australia. The carapace may
be light fawn, with darker patches or an even dark olive-brown. It is slightly keeled, with small
serrations on the marginals behind the bridge. There is a narrow black line which traces the upper edge
of the adjoining golden throat and mandible between the steel grey head and upper neck, beginning under
the eye and extending along the neck. The plastron, bridges and soft underparts are a similar colour,
while the upper skin is steel grey. From hatchling until maturity, the iris of the eye is golden with
darker flecks. The inner edge has a yellowish ring.
|
|
|
Elseya georgesi, holotype A.M R31721 |
||
As the turtle grows, two distinct barbels become increasingly noticeable.
Concurrently, the gold fades from the mouth so the sheaths become more conspi~uous. The throat darkens
to steel grey, making the band of yellow from the angle of the mouth along the neck prominent by contrast.
All indications of the gold band tend to have disappeared at an advanced age, by which time the eye
colours have also dulled. The undershell of juveniles acquires dark edges to all seams, and a greenish
blue tinge permeates the yellow and remains distinctive from juveniles throughout maturity. Later, these
shields tend to darken. At no time does an adult's dark carapace develop a central groove as it does on
Elseya latisternum and Elseya sp. from the Namoi River and there is also no tendency
for the posterior of the shell to flare as it does in these closely related species; rather it reaches
its peak slightly forward of the centre and tapers evenly to the rear.
When viewed dorsally, the nuchal is normally present, and with the exception of a slight bluntness on M1
and M2, the turtle is quite oval in shape. Viewed laterally, MI - 3 drop sharply then the marginals run
on a similar plane to the plastron to M10, then drop on the same arc as the central ridge. There is
slight evidence of marginal turn up on M5 - 7.
The anterior lobe of the plastron on old females may reach the anterior edge of the carapace so that when
the turtle sits flat, the plastron can just be visible from a dorsal view. Viewed from below, the
posterior lobe of the plastron is slightly tapered to a circular anal notch. Viewed from the front, the
cross-section is evenly arched from marginal to marginal. An evenly darkcoloured head shield on the crown
is present, extending down to the tympanum and is always smooth, unlike E. latisternum which can
be patterned and keratinised when mature. There is no median alveolar ridge.