Genus Elseya Gray, 1867

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Taxonomic Decision for Subgeneric Arrangement

• Thomson, S.A., 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

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT) ; Qld: Desert Uplands (DEU)

ID Keys

Key to Elseya species from Georges & Thomson 2010

1 - Anterior carpace expanded, squared off, anterior extent of second marginal scute as great or greater than that of the first marginal scute in adults -
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................Queensland clade......2
-. Carapace broadly oval, anterior extent of carapace greatest at first marginal scute in adults -
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................Northern clade............3
2 - Dorsal surface of skull and overlying head shield smooth; anterior carapace squared off, extent of second marginal scute equal to or greater than that of first marginal scute in adults; prominent white or cream markings on throat and sides of head may extend to cover the dorsal surface of head in adult females (Burdekin drainage only) -
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................irwini
-. Dorsal surface of the skull and overlying head shield deeply fenestrated in full grown adults; anterior carapace ovoid, first marginal scute the most anterior scute of the carapace; prominent white or cream markings on throat and sides of head, not extending to dorsal surface of head -
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................albagula
3 - Plastron cream or white, unblemished by streaks, darker borders of the scute sutures, or other darker markings; scales on temporal region of head not prominent; side of head often with white or cream blotches -
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
-. Plastron yellow, cream or white, with streaks of brown or black, darker borders to the scutes or other darker marking (after removal of any staining) -
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................dentata
4 - Plastron of low relief, little or no abrupt angle between the bridge and the ventral surface of the plastron; head shield fragmented -
...............................................................................................................................................................................................Elseya dentata [South Alligator]
-. Ventral surface of the plastron at a distinct angle from the bridge; head shield entire -
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................branderhorsti

General References

Thomson, S.A., 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

History of changes