Irwin's turtle

Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini) is a rare species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, originating from the lower region of the Burdekin River area.

Irwin's turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Elseya
Subgenus: Pelocomastes
Species:
E. irwini
Binomial name
Elseya irwini
Cann, 1997[1]

Discovery

Steve Irwin and his father Bob Irwin spotted a specimen of E. irwini on a crocodile catching trip on the Burdekin river in 1990. They had never seen it before. Steve Irwin took pictures and sent them to turtle expert John Cann who verified that it was indeed a new species.[2] The new species was then named after Steve Irwin.[1]

Description

The female of the species E. irwini has a pale head with a yellowish horny sheath on the crown.[3] The pale color present in the female of this species is due to a lack of multiple pigments which affect essentially all parts of the body.[4] These individuals are known for their sturdy skull, which is supported by a narrow muscle called the pterygoid, creating a shielding for the skull and providing normal jaw functions.[5]

Burdekin River (1887)

Respiration

E. irwini, like some other turtles,[6] can breathe underwater by taking water into its cloaca. The cloaca is a cavity at the end of the digestive tract containing a chamber with gill-like structures which allow for the diffusion of oxygen.[7] Without this structure, this species of turtle would not be able to stay under water for long periods of time. Irwin's turtle needs to live in a source of water that is plentiful with oxygen. If the water has low oxygen levels or is filled with contaminants, the turtle has a lower chance of survival.

Threats

The habitat of the Irwin's Turtle has been impacted by the construction of the Burdekin Dam, which has caused a decline in water quality of the Burdekin River. Poor water quality makes it hard for this species to survive and reproduce. Plans for the construction of Urannah Dam would cause further impacts and habitat contraction.[8]

See also

References
  1. Cann, J (1997). "Irwin's Turtle, Elseya irwini sp. nov." (PDF). Monitor: Journal of the Victorian Herpetological Society. 9 (1): 36–40.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Elseya irwini, p. 130).
  3. Cann, John (1998). "Irwins Turtle Elseya irwini". Australian Freshwater Turtles. Singapore: Beaumont. pp. 195–198. ISBN 0-646-33978-8.
  4. Turner, Grant S. (2011). "Hypomelanism in Irwin's Turtle, Elseya irwini, from the Johnstone River, North Queensland, Australia". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 10 (2): 275–281. doi:10.2744/CCB-0851.1. ISSN 1071-8443. S2CID 84403066.
  5. Limpus, Colin J.; Georges, Arthur; Thomson, Scott (May 1, 2006). "A New Species of Freshwater Turtle in the Genus Elseya (Testudines: Chelidae) from Central Coastal Queensland, Australia". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 5 (1): 74–86. doi:10.2744/1071-8443(2006)5[74:ANSOFT]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1071-8443.
  6. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of the Environment. "Rheodytes leukops – Fitzroy River Turtle, Fitzroy Tortoise, Fitzroy Turtle, White-eyed River Diver". www.environment.gov.au.
  7. "Cloaca – Definition, Function and Quiz". Biology Dictionary. 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  8. Beeton, Profesdsor Robert (2009). "Advice to the minister for the environment, heritage and the arts from the threatened species of scientific committee" (PDF). Australia: Department of the Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
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