Fwd: OT: variegated scutes on carapace of young long-necked turtle

[Fleur Leary via Canberrabirds <>]

Response re turtle carapace question. 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Waterwatch Coordinator <>
Date: Mon., 20 Dec. 2021, 3:25 pm
Subject: OT: variegated scutes on carapace of young long-necked turtle
To: Fleur Leary <>

Thanks Fleur, nice one, yeah, the animal is probably growing and shedding the scutes. 

It might have started with those from the front first, but it will eventually change the whole carapace.

I don't have photos with me now, but we see that from time to time and that's very evident with the urban turtles, they have lots of algae on the shell, and we see half mossy, half clear.

Thank you and have a nice Christmas, cheers, Bruno

On Fri, 17 Dec 2021 at 10:02, Fleur Leary <> wrote:

Do you know the answer to this question? 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Nick Payne via Canberrabirds <>
Date: Sat., 11 Dec. 2021, 5:13 pm
Subject: OT: variegated scutes on carapace of young long-necked turtle
To: Canberra Birds <>

We were out at the rest area at the southern end of Lake George today,
and encountered this small (and therefore presumably young) long-necked
turtle. I would say it was roughly half the size of a fully-grown
specimen of the species. Is the variegated colouring of the scutes on
the carapace just indicative of some having been shed during growth
before others? I haven't come across one before with such variegated
colours on the carapace.

Nick Payne

p.s. After taking the photo we moved him/her a safe distance away from
the road towards the lake.
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