Broad-shelled turtle genome

The Broad-shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa) is a freshwater dwelling species that can be found in the Eastern states of Australia, preferring billabongs and slow flowing rivers. This species has been listed as endangered in the southern states including South Australian and Victoria.

Broad-shelled turtle, Chelodina expansa, QLD. Photograph: trinmass, CC-BY-NC; source: iNaturalist Australia

Turtles of the family Chelidae are found only in Australian region and South America, even in the fossil record, and so are of clear Gondwanal origin. Their closest relatives are with the greater Pelomedusidae, once widespread in both hemispheres, but now restricted to South America, Africa and Madagascar. Together, they represent a major component of freshwater turtle biodiversity that has not been well studied genomically.

Project coordinator:

Project collaborators:

  • Hardip Patel (Australian National University)
  • Janine Deakin (University of Canberra)
  • Diego Cortez (Mexico, Center for Genome Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico)
  • Yu Lin (Australian National University)
  • Yanbo Li (Australian National University)

References cited:

  • Kennett, R., J. Roe, K. Hodges, A. Georges. 2009. Chelodina longicollis (Shaw 1794) – Eastern Long-Necked Turtle, Common Long-Necked Turtle, Common Snake-Necked Turtle. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises, 31: 1-8.

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