Myuchelys latisternum
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
The saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys latisternum) is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales, with populations also noted as far south as Newcastle - (Williams River Catchment site of the former Tilligra Dam). They are thought to have been introduced to Lake Eacham in the Atherton Tablelands. Other common English names are: serrated snapping turtle or common sawshell turtle.
The female is considerably larger than the male, with a carapace up to 28 cm long compared to the males which rarely get longer than about 18 cm. The carapace is roughly oval and broad at the rear. They are not usually aggressive, but can bite fiercely. They can also emit a strong smell.
The shell has marginal serrations which are the reason for its common name. It retains some of these serrations throughout its life. "The head shield extends down the side of the head to just above the tympanum, and the top of the neck has prominent pointed tubercules (many of these with an apical sensory pit)."
The carapace is mainly brown to dark brown, commonly... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Zoological Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Australia Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Bronx Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Wilhelma | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Nikolaev Zoo | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | |
| 8 | Akron Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Sea Life Sydney Aquarium | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Alexandra Park Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Wild Life Sydney | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Birdworld Kuranda | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Kuranda Koala Gardens | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Manly Sea Life Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia |
No species of the same family or order lives in Daintree National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Australian Snapping Turtle sighting in Daintree National Park on a given day, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 16th most-seen of the 31 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November and December
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Australian Snapping Turtle in Daintree National Park on a given day, against about 10% in May and July, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Northern Australian Snapping Turtle sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Northern Australian Snapping Turtle sightings, Daintree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%) and Springbrook National Park (Australia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Northern Australian Snapping Turtle is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Daintree National Park (39 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
