C. novaeguineae inhabits small and large freshwater bodies of water, jungle rivers with ample vegetation.
Description
The carapace is dark brown, almost black, but shows some variation from "normal" turtle patterns. The plastron is a light brown, tan color. C. novaeguineae has a long neck, which (including the head) can sometimes exceed the length of the carapace. The skin is mostly gray, except for black on the head, and white on the underparts.
Behavior
When resting, C. novaeguineae twists its long neck off to the side for protection. The highly flexible neck permits foraging in mud as well as snorkeling. It also allows the turtle to strike quickly to capture prey.
Reproduction
The New Guinea snake-necked turtle is oviparous. 17–21 eggs are laid and incubation lasts 75–110 days depending on temperature.
References
^Asian Turtle Trade Working Group. (2000). Chelodina novaeguineae. (errata version published in 2016) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2000
^Boulenger GA (1888). "On the Chelydoid Chelonians of New Guinea". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Series 2a, 6: 449–452. (Chelodina novae-guineae, new species, pp. 450–451).
^van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Bour, Roger; Rhodin, Anders G.J. (2012). "Turtles of the World, 2012 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status". Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.243–000.328.
