Snake-necked Turtles

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Snake-necked turtles are freshwater turtles in the family Chelidae family.

As the name implies, they are characterized by extra long necks that do not retract into their shell. Rather, they bend their neck and head under their shell when threatened.

There are no indiginous snake-necked turtle species in the United States. The forty or so species world-wide inhabit the rivers and ponds of Australasian South America.

The Siebenrock's Snake-necked Turtle in the picture is a native of New Guinea.

© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels