Fitzroy River Turtle

1 Overview

The Fitzroy River Turtle is a turtle that can breathe with both lungs and its cloaca, a configuration letting it stay submerged longer—an evolutionary trait of uncertain ‘rank’ but a remarkable one.

Natives to Australia call it the turtle that breathes through its bottom. Scientists observing it found two large pouches at the rear that help the cloaca draw oxygen from water, extending dive time.

Chinese name: Fitzroy River Turtle

Common alias: Creek Turtle

English name: Fitzroy River Turtle

Scientific name: Rheodytes leukops

Geographic distribution: Australia

Reproduction: oviparous; sexual maturity takes 15–20 years; nesting usually in September–October; up to 5 clutches per season, about 46–59 small elongated eggs; natural incubation up to about 90 days

Adult size: 26.2 cm

Habitat: prefers flowing waters with sandy or gravel bottoms; rarely basks or surfaces, so highly dependent on cloacal breathing

2 Physical Characteristics

The Fitzroy River Turtle looks more like a softshell; its rounded carapace lacks clear patterning, its limbs are long with indistinct webbing, indicating it is unsuited to deep water.

It is a medium-sized, short-necked long-neck turtle with cloacal sacs. The juvenile carapace is oval; the marginal scutes have smooth edges. Subadults are nearly round with serrated marginal edges. Subadults have a distinct keel, but adults are slightly domed and smoother, dark brown (some olive) possibly with a few blue spots; adult females often lighten with age.

Juveniles are light brown with black carapace spots and a narrow brownish-yellow plastron; the front lobe is pointed with a notch at the rear; the bridge is broad, slightly darker than the carapace. The head is narrow with a short strong snout, no chin shield, so the head’s outer width is small; the upper jaw surface is smooth. The head is brown or olive, the neck underside orange-yellow, the male’s head brightening with age; the adult iris is ivory-white, subadult silver. The neck is warty, the chin has a pair of barbels; other skin is olive-gray.

3 Care Guidelines

The Fitzroy River Turtle’s greatest feature is its two respiratory systems: lungs and cloacal breathing, storing more oxygen and extending dive time.

Native to Australia, locals call it the turtle that breathes through its bottom. Scientists found two large rear pouches that help the cloaca draw oxygen from water, extending dives.

Many river turtles also take oxygen via the cloaca. In 2002, Toni E. Priest and Craig E. Franklin found the Fitzroy River Turtle elevates this ability to a level no other turtle reaches. Ordinary river turtles absorb only about 4% of oxygen via the cloaca, but this species absorbs about 41%—nearly half its oxygen comes from its bottom.

4 Natural Habitat

Environment setup and temperature control are important, as this turtle easily falls ill from unreasonable changes; below we describe its enclosure.

1. Enclosure setup: water 70–80% of area, land 20–30%; because it likes to bask, provide land with large stones, driftwood, or bricks fully out of water, plus a spotlight above and a reptile UV tube to mimic sun heat and UVA/B. A spotlight and UV tube substitute for sun but are far inferior.

2. Temperature: water depth can be 1–3 times the shell length; ideal 18–25°C, but in summer water may spike to 30°C+, causing shell rot, so cooling is needed. Aquarium chillers exist but are costly; without one, keep water clean.

5 Feeding Requirements

It is omnivorous but prefers meat; choose fish, shrimp, and pellets for nutrition. It is demanding about environment, so keep the feeding area hygienic.

1. What it eats: Turtles eat fish; aquatic turtles lean carnivorous—feed meat, not human cooked/seasoned food. Shrimp meat is very calcium-rich and loved. Feed in water; water level to shell edge. Also offer turtle pellets and fish food for trace elements, but not too much.

2. Notes: Feed once daily, not too much—turtles have no satiety sense and overfeeding causes leg swelling from indigestion. Food amount about the size of the head. They defecate right after eating, so clean promptly or the tank fouls; dirty water causes skin disease. Without a filter, change water daily.