Rhodin, 1994b
Roti Island snake-necked turtle
Recognition
The keelless, oval, broad, rugose carapace (to 21.3 cm) is broadest behind the center, may have a slight medial depression in large individuals, and has flared, smooth posterior marginals. The vertebrals are broader than long, with the 1st largest and the 4th smallest. Neural bones are absent. Carapacial color is variable, but in most ground color is grayish brown. The plastron is large, almost covering the entire carapacial opening. The forelobe is slightly broader than the hindlobe, and a posterior notch is present. The plastral formula is intergul > an > or = abd > fem > pect > hum > gul. The intergular scute is at least twice as long as the interpectoral seam. Plastron, bridge, and undersides of marginals cream-colored with some light brown along the seams. The head is moderately broad with a slightly upturned nonprojecting snout; the upper jaw is not notched. Dorsally the neck is covered with small, rounded tubercles. Skin is light to moderately gray dorsally and whitish ventrally.
Females are larger than males, and have small tails; the male tail is long and thick.
Distribution
This turtle is known only from Roti Island, Indonesia.
Geographic Variation
Unknown.
Habitat
C. mccordi lives in freshwater lakes, and also on the mesic inland highland plateau in swamps, rice paddies and irrigation ditches (Rhodin, 1996).
Natural History
According to Rhodin (1994b) the average clutch size is 8-9 eggs. The eggs are oval and similar in shape to those of C. longicollis. Incubation period is about two months; hatchlings have orange and gray plastra and ventral skin.
IUCN Red List Status (1996)
Vulnerable (D2).