Freshwater Turtles
Australia’s freshwater turtles spend most of their time in rivers, lakes, swamps and ponds, including farm dams. However, they sometimes come onto land to migrate between water bodies or to nest. Some species can also survive for months in a dormant state buried in soil or dry lake beds. However, they are not able to feed out of water.
Nesting turtles dig a hole in the ground with their hind legs, lay their eggs in the hole, then cover the eggs with earth. A clutch may comprise as many as 25 eggs, depending on the species of turtle and her size. After a few months the eggs hatch and the hatchling turtles make their way to the water, where they typically take around 10 years to grow to maturity.
Little is known about the life span of Australian freshwater turtles, but they can probably live for 50 years or more.
Freshwater Turtles
Australia’s freshwater turtles spend most of their time in rivers, lakes, swamps and ponds, including farm dams. However, they sometimes come onto land to migrate between water bodies or to nest. Some species can also survive for months in a dormant state buried in soil or dry lake beds. However, they are not able to feed out of water.
Nesting turtles dig a hole in the ground with their hind legs, lay their eggs in the hole, then cover the eggs with earth. A clutch may comprise as many as 25 eggs, depending on the species of turtle and her size. After a few months the eggs hatch and the hatchling turtles make their way to the water, where they typically take around 10 years to grow to maturity.
Little is known about the life span of Australian freshwater turtles, but they can probably live for 50 years or more.