Reptiles
Western Swamp Turtle
Pseudemydura umbrina
In a winter swamp on the edge of Perth, a western swamp turtle no bigger than a saucer paddles through the shallows, hunting tadpoles among the sedges.
Overview
The western swamp turtle, Pseudemydura umbrina, is a Critically Endangered freshwater turtle found only in a handful of seasonal swamps near Perth, in Western Australia. Its tiny range, summer dormancy, and rescue by captive breeding make it one of the great conservation stories of Australian reptiles.
A turtle that sleeps through the summer
When its swamp dries out each summer, the turtle buries itself in leaf litter or a burrow and waits for the rains to return, sometimes for many months.
Status
Critically Endangered, with an increasing population thanks to captive breeding.
Western Swamp Turtle: common questions
How rare is the western swamp turtle?
It is Critically Endangered and found only in a handful of seasonal swamps near Perth, with a wild population of a few hundred.
How did it survive the summer droughts?
When the swamps dry out in summer, it buries itself in leaf litter or a burrow and waits for the winter rains.
What saved it from extinction?
Captive breeding at Perth Zoo and release into protected swamps have raised numbers to a few hundred.
Where does the western swamp turtle live?
It lives only in a handful of seasonal swamps near Perth, in Western Australia.