Species Natator depressus (Garman, 1880)
Flatback Turtle
- Chelonia depressa (part.) Garman, S. 1880. On certain species of Chelonioidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 6: 123-126 [124].
Type data:
Lectotype MCZ 4473 (Loveridge, A. 1934. Australian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 243–383 cited one of the 'cotypes' as 'type', which we have treated as a lectotype designation; other paralectotype, MCZ 1413, is referred to Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)designation, other syntype, MCZ 1413, referred to Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)), northern Australia.Subsequent designation references:
Loveridge, A. 1934. Australian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 77: 243-383.Type locality references:
Barbour, T. 1914. On some Australian reptiles. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 27: 201-206. - Natator tessellatus McCulloch, A.R. 1908. A new genus and species of turtle from north Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 7: 126-128 [127, pls 26-27].
Type data:
Holotype AM R4158, near Port Darwin, NT.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [69]
Distribution
States
New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Timor Sea, Indian Ocean, Coral Sea, Arafura Sea; coastal waters of northern and north-eastern Australia (Fritz & Havas 2007: 170)
Australian Endemic.
IMCRA
Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Ecological Descriptors
Algae feeder, aquatic, continental shelf, coral reef, migratory, noctidiurnal, piscivore, predator.
Extra Ecological Information
Seasonal breeder, oviparous.
General References
Chatterji, R.M., Hutchinson M.N. & Jones, M.E.H 2020. Redescription of the skull of the Australian flatback sea turtle, Natator depressus, provides new morphological evidence for phylogenetic relationships among sea turtles (Chelonioidea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 20: 1-24
Cogger, H.G. & Lindner, D.A. 1969. Marine turtles in northern Australia. The Australian Zoologist 15: 150-159
Fritz, U. & Havas, P. 2007. Checklist of Chelonians of the World. Vertebrate Zoology 57(2): 149-368 [170]
Fry, D.B. 1913. On the status of Chelonia depressa, Garman. Records of the Australian Museum 10: 159-185 (taxonomy)
Limpus, C.J., Parmenter, C.J., Parker, R. & Ford, N. 1981. The flatback turtle Chelonia depressa in Queensland: the Peak Island rookery. Herpetofauna 13: 14-17
Common Name References
CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Flatback Turtle)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-Mar-2011 | 20-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |