Freshwater Turtles of Australia
By: John Cann, Ross Sadlier
An illustrated guide to the diverse and complex freshwater turtles of Australia.
Australia is home to a diverse freshwater turtle fauna including more than 25 species and an array of side-necked turtle subspecies. The biology and ecology of Australian freshwater turtles is complex and a number of species are of particular conservation concern. Many affected species are found on Australia’s east coast, where the river systems are most heavily modified due to the pressures of development. + Full description
Freshwater Turtles of Australia is a beautifully illustrated and comprehensive update of John Cann’s highly respected Australian Freshwater Turtles (1998). It reviews new information on the biology of Australian chelid turtles, presents recent perspectives and insights into their history and taxonomy, and provides an introduction to the freshwater turtles of New Guinea and Irian Jaya to Australia’s north. This landmark work brings together years of research and experience and will serve as an important reference for researchers, academics and herpetologists for many years to come.
Recipient of the 2018 Whitley Certificate of Commendation for Natural History
- Short descriptionNews
Freshwater Turtles of Australia is published in conjunction with Eco Publishing.
Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. Elsewhere, this title is available through Eco Publishing.
Reviews
"The richness and variety of accompanying illustrations ensure that the text, although dense in places, never overwhelms the reader... this is a splendid publication and an incredibly rich source of information on these remarkable animals. At the same time, the book also serves to highlight the diversity, beauty and fragility of Australian freshwater habitats and their associated aquatic fauna."
Greg Czechura, Wildlife Australia, Summer 2017
"It should be noted straightaway that this magnificent volume is a compulsory acquisition for anyone with an interest in Australian turtles – or natural history for that matter... This book will stand as an absolute benchmark for future publications, and is testament in particular to one man’s lifelong passion for Australian turtles."
iHerp Australia magazine 5, 2018
"The book is richly illustrated throughout with high quality photographs of each species, including examples of geographic variation. There are also very good photographs of turtle habitats and a smattering of photos showing people catching turtles in the field allowing the reader to see what is was like for Cann and Sadlier to collect turtles in the bush over the years. This is a great book written by people who know how to both present detailed data on natural history and do so in an engaging and readable fashion. If you are interested in Australian natural history, especially about turtles, you will want to buy and read this book."
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Herpetological Review 49(3), September 2018
Details
Hardback | August 2017 | $150.00ISBN: 9781486308248 | 464 pages | 235 x 305 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs
Features
- First comprehensive monograph on the freshwater turtles of Australia since the 1998 publication of Australian Freshwater Turtles
- Reviews the latest science on the biology of Australian chelid turtles
- Extensively illustrated throughout with colour photographs and illustrations
Contents
ForewordIntroduction
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Australian freshwater turtles and Aboriginal culture
Chapter 2: Long-neck turtles
Chapter 3: Snapping turtles
Chapter 4: Saw-shell turtles
Chapter 5: Fitzroy River turtle
Chapter 6: Mary River turtle
Chapter 7: Short-neck turtles
Chapter 8: Western Swamp turtle
Chapter 9: Pig-nose turtle
Chapter 10: New Guinea freshwater turtles
References
About the authors
Authors
John Cann is a pioneer in the study of Australian turtles and is acknowledged worldwide for his achievements in the field. His lifetime fascination with these animals has resulted in works including Tortoises of Australia (1978), Australian Freshwater Turtles (1998) and Freshwater Turtles (2008).
Ross Sadlier, long-time friend and colleague of Cann, was a Collection Manager in Herpetology at the Australian Museum for 35 years prior to his retirement. During his research career he spent significant time in the field, mainly in northern and eastern Australia, and described over 70 new lizard species.
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