Mary River turtle
| Mary River turtle | |
|---|---|
| In Queensland, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Pleurodira |
| Family: | Chelidae |
| Subfamily: | Chelodininae |
| Genus: | Elusor Cann & Legler, 1994 |
| Species: | E. macrurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Elusor macrurus Cann & Legler, 1994 | |
| Range is the red pentagon (from Gympie to Maryborough) | |
The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is an endangered species of short-necked turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to the Mary River in south-east Queensland, Australia. Although this turtle was known to inhabit the Mary River for nearly 30 years, it was not until 1994 that it was recognised as a new species. There has been a dramatic decrease in its population due to low reproduction rates and an increase of depredation on nests.