Roti Island Snake Necked Turtle

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi), also commonly known as McCord's snakeneck turtle, is a critically endangered turtle species from Rote Island in Indonesia. The Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle has a rough shell which is wide and oval shaped which is a bull brown colour. The species has a very long neck which is around two thirds of the length of its body. The neck is a darker brown compared to the body and the species has ringed eyes.

The Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle behaviour consists of: Having up to 3 breeding periods per year and lay between 8 to 14 eggs, The species has such a long neck that it cannot be retracted into its shell. They have to tuck their neck sideways to be able to fit it in, The species spends the dry season under boulders and leaves.

The Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle is being aided in its attempt of survival by the Turtle Surveillance Alliance which has insurance colonies of the species in the United States which can help ensure the species survival along with policing the illegal trade of the species and a successful breeding program. It is still illegally captured and it is often offered on markets under the label of the New Guinea snake-necked turtle which is also legally protected. In 2004 it was listed in Appendix II of CITES as Endangered.