Carettochelys insculpta

In Papua New Guinea, Carettochelys insculpta inhabits rivers (including estuarine reaches and river deltas), grassy lagoons, swamps, lakes and water-holes of the southern lowlands (Leim and Haines, 1977; Groombridge, 1982). Locals of the Purari region claim that the hatchling turtles congregate in the lower delta and feed on vegetation and fruits of mangroves. In Australia, there are no substantiated reports of Carettochelys insculpta occurring in estuarine areas (Press, 1986; Georges and Kennett, 1989) but it is known from the clear, shallow, continuously-flowing waters of the Daly drainage (Cogger, 1970; Cann, 1972; Webb et al., 1986) and from lowland billabongs, upland billabongs and plunge pools of the Alligator Rivers region (Legler, 1980, 1982; Press, 1986; Georges and Kennett, 1989). The preferred dry season habitat in the Alligator Rivers region is typified by Barramundi Creek (Legler, 1982) and Pul Pul Billabong (Georges and Kennett, 1989). Average depth was approximately 2 m but there were holes between 3 and 7 m deep. The substratum was sand and gravel covered with a thin layer of fine silt and litter. Fallen trees and branches, undercut banks, exposed tree roots, and local accumulations of litter provided a diverse range of underwater cover for turtles. The banks of the billabongs were covered in a dense broadleafed forest, including the important turtle food Ficus racemosa. The many small sandbanks adjacent to the water were more than adequate in number and size for nesting. Water flows through the billabongs in all months of most years.