Elseya dentata explained

Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863),^[1] the northern snapping turtle, is a large aquatic turtle found throughout many rivers in northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is one of three species in the nominate subgenus Elseya.

Etymology

This species is named for the serrated margin of the shell, mostly only visible in younger animals.

Taxonomy

During their revision of the New Guinea Elseya a lectotype was set for this species. Further it was placed in a subgenus and as the type species of the genus it is therefore in the nominate subgenus.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Gray, J.E. 1863. On the species of Chelymys from Australia, with the description of a new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 3(12):98-99
2. Thomson, S., Amepou, Y., Anamiato, J. & Georges, A. 2015. A new species and subgenus of Elseya (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from New Guinea. Zootaxa 4006(1):59-82. Preview (PDF)