Irwin's Snapping Turtle

About the Irwin's Snapping Turtle

Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini) is a rare species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. They are endemic to Australia, originating from the lower region of the Burdekin River area in northern Queensland, and were named after the late conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin.

Naturalist Bob Irwin and his son, Steve, caught a female specimen of E. irwini on a crocodile-catching trip on the Burdekin River in 1990, on a fishing line. Steve Irwin took pictures and sent them to turtle expert John Cann, who verified that it was indeed a new species. The new species was named after Steve Irwin.

The female of the species E. irwini has a pale head with a yellowish horny sheath on the crown. The pale colour present in the female of this species is due to a lack of multiple pigments which affect essentially all parts of the body. 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.

E. i. irwini Cann, 1997 E. i. stirlingi Joseph-Ouni et al., 2023 E. irwini, like some... Wikipedia →