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  • Roti snake-necked turtle

Roti snake-necked turtle

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

Unknown

for this species

Diet

Diet

Amphibians, fish, carrion

Insects, molluscs, worms

Habitat

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes

Also wetlands and rice fields

Range

Range

Roti Island

Indonesia

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The Roti snake-necked turtles

Use of a snake-like neck

Use of a snake-like neck

The snake-necked turtles are an ancient group of turtles found in Australia, New Guinea, East Timor and Roti Island in Indonesia. More than 70 million years ago, these turtles diverged from all other living things in their evolutionary path. This took place even before the dinosaurs went extinct!

Snake-necked turtles are named for their strikingly long neck, which cannot be withdrawn into their shell. Instead, these turtles tuck their head and neck in sideways towards their body when threatened.

The Roti Island snake-neck also emits a foul smell to deter would-be predators. This species uses its long neck to ambush unsuspecting prey.
Downfall of the unique

Downfall of the unique

Recently described as a unique species, the Roti Island snake-neck occurs in three separate populations solely on the tiny island of Roti. In the five years following its description, excessive harvesting almost completely depleted wild numbers within all 70 km2 of its available habitat. A distinct endemic species with a restricted range, it commands sky-high prices in the pet trade. Unfortunately, due to unsustainable exploitation, it is now considered commercially extinct by Indonesian traders. Despite strict trade sanctions - it is listed in CITES Appendix I, with zero export quota - the species remains at high risk of extinction.

Together, we protect wildlife

Conserving the Roti Island snake-necks

Conserving the Roti Island snake-necks

We house an assurance colony at Singapore Zoo to safeguard the Roti snake-necked turtle, the only one for the species in Asia. The turtles under our care were sent to us from breeding programmes in the United States and Austria in 2015.

After years of planning, 13 of these turtles finally made it back to their native country of Indonesia in September 2021, in a joint effort led by The Ministry of Environment and Forestry Republic of Indonesia (MOEF) and Balai Besar KSDA Nusa Tenggara Timur (Bbksda Ntt) Province with the support of Mandai Nature, Singapore Zoo, and Wildlife Conservation Society – Indonesia Program (WCS-IP) WCS Indonesia.

It is the first repatriation of its kind for the species and marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conservation efforts for turtles.

The IUCN Status

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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