FITZROY RIVER TURTLE
Rheodytes leukops

Also known as White-Eyed River Diver. Restricted to the Fitzroy drainage in Queensland, this species was first described as a new genus and species only in 1980.

It is a gentle but robust form that prefers to occupy well oxygenated, broken water sections of the river.

It has well developed cloacal bursae used to extract oxygen from water pumped through its bottom. Omnivorous. Nests in the spring.
(Fitzroy River, Qld)

back to index ...