Meet the Eastern long-necked turtle
This is the turtle many Australians first meet crossing a country road. It spends most of its life in water but readily walks long distances overland to find new waterholes or nesting sites, especially after rain.
Its neck is about half as long as its shell. Like other Australian side-necked turtles, it tucks its head sideways under the edge of its shell instead of pulling it straight back. It uses that long neck to strike at prey such as tadpoles, insects and small fish.
When handled or threatened it releases a strong-smelling fluid from glands near its armpits and groin, which is why it's widely called the 'stinker'. Females lay about 4 to 20 hard-shelled eggs in spring or early summer, sometimes two or three clutches a season, and hatchlings show bright black-and-orange undersides that fade with age.
It was one of the first Australian reptiles described by European science: George Shaw named it Testudo longicollis in 1794 in Zoology of New Holland.
Where it lives
Widespread across eastern mainland Australia, from around Adelaide in South Australia through Victoria and New South Wales to central Queensland. It lives in swamps, billabongs, lagoons, farm dams and slow-flowing rivers and creeks.