Further evidence in support of the recognition of the Freshwater Turtle Elseya oneiros (Testudines: Chelidae) from the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers of Northern Queensland

A recent study reaffirms the distinct status of Elseya oneiros, a freshwater turtle species from the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers in northern Queensland, challenging its synonymization with E. lavarackorum. By analyzing 16 scute characters (carapace and plastron) and nine additional thoracic skeletal traits, researchers found no support for Thomson et al.'s (1997) claim that these species were conspecific. Instead, the study supports Joseph-Ouni et al.'s (2020) proposal that E. oneiros represents a separate lineage within the subgenus Elseya, addressing criticisms raised by the Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG 2021). This work strengthens the taxonomic distinction of this Pleistocene-era turtle, contributing to our understanding of its evolutionary history in the UNESCO-listed Australian Fossil Mammal Sites.

Joseph-Ouni, M., White, A., Smales, I., Saddlier, R., Cann, J., McCord, W., Couper, P., Amey, A.,. (2022). Further evidence in support of the recognition of the Freshwater Turtle Elseya oneiros (Testudines: Chelidae) from the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers of Northern Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature, 63, 93–112. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.63.2022.2022-01