SPECIES: Myuchelys belli — Western Sawshelled Turtle
CLASSIFICATION: Endangered
The distinctive characteristic of the Western Sawshelled Turtle - is indeed the saw-toothed edging around the shell of young turtles. This species is a short-necked, freshwater turtle, endemic to areas of NSW and Queensland. Their optimal habitat - if you like - is a narrow stretch of river, nothing over about 40m width with pools of both shallow and deep, rocky and/or sandy riverbed bottoms sprinkled with patches of weed.
It's a lengthy list of threats for the Western Sawshelled Turtle, where to start. Pollution of their river habitat, damage to the river bank and habitat vegetation, predation on both eggs and hatchlings and also on the list is eye disease plaguing this turtle species.