Bell’s turtle is an intermediate-sized short-necked freshwater turtle. Females have a carapace length of up to 300 mm and males up to 227 mm (Fielder et al. 2015). It is in the ‘saw-shelled’ turtle group, which refers to the saw-toothed rear edge of the upper shell that occurs in young turtles. This species is similar in most respects to Wollumbinia lateristernum (the Saw-shelled Turtle) (Cogger 2014).
Bell's Turtle, Western Sawshell Turtle, Namoi River Turtle, Bell's Saw-shelled Turtle |
Wollumbinia belli
Status: Vulnerable on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Wollumbinia belli
The species may also be periodically affected by extensive low rainfall conditions; and may be affected by global climate change.