#irwin's turtle

Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini), also known as the northern snapping turtle, is a rare species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae, which is native to Australia. The species was named after conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin, who along with his father Bob Irwin discovered and described the first specimen known to science in 1990. These turtles are endemic to the Johnstone and Burdekin Rivers and there tributaries particularly Broken River and Bowen Creek where they prefer areas of well oxygenated flowing water. There diet is comprised primarily of grasses, fallen fruit, algae, aquatic plants, carrion, and invertebrates such as shrimp, insects, and mollusks especially snails. Irwin’s turtles are themselves preyed upon by crocodiles, feral hogs, and goannas. There is some considerable sexual dimorphism with males reaching around 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cms) in length while females reach 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30cms). While both sexes sport a orangish brown shell that’s often covered in algae, males sport limbs necks and heads that are a uniform olive to grey coloration while females are notable for having a cream colored head and neck which can be tinted slightly yellow or pink. The nesting season occurs from april to july, after mating a female will dig a nest into a river bank where she will lay 8 to 24 eggs, which will hatch some 120 to 150 days later. Under ideal conditions an Irwin’s turtle may live upwards of 30 years.

i still need to mess around with the design and colours a bit for the auau turtles,, but here's mikey as they are now! :3 I also messed around with a shading idea but idk looks pretty cool I think.

Ecosystem Role: Endangered (Source)

Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini) by Stewart Macdonald Via Flickr: Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini).

Irwin's Snapping Turtle at the National Aquarium in Baltimore by jrinker

Irwin's Snapping Turtle by butylman