Elseya dentata ( Gray 1863: 98 )

Thomson, Scott, Amepou, Yolarnie, Anamiato, Jim & Georges, Arthur, 2015, A new species and subgenus of Elseya (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 4006 (1), pp. 59-82 : 62

Elseya dentata ( Gray 1863: 98)

North Australian Snapping Turtle

1863 Chelymys dentata — Gray, 1863:98

1864 Chelymys elseyi — Gray, 1864, nomen nudum following Fritz and Havaš (2007).

1867 Elseya dentata — Gray, 1867. First use of combination.

1870 Chelymys elseya — Gray, 1870, nomen nudum following Wermuth and Mertens (1961).

1872 Elseya intermedia — Gray, 1872:23, holotype, BMNH 1947.3.4.14, from upper part of Victoria River, NT, Australia. Synonymy follows that of Cogger et al. (1983).

Type data: Lectotype—BMNH 1947.3.6.2 from Beagles Valley, Victoria River, Northern Territory (this study) (15˚ 34' S, 130˚ 54' E). Paralectotype—BMNH 1947.3.6.3 from Beagles Valley, Victoria River, Northern Territory (15˚34'S, 130˚54'E).

Diagnosis —Large short-necked chelid turtle. Juveniles have moderately spinose shells, reducing in prominence with age; many large adults with entire margin to the shell. Dark streaks or mottling of the otherwise cream plastron; carapace dark brown, almost black. Head shield entire, not as extensive or as fenestrated as the head shields of members of subgenus Pelocomastes . The alveolar ridge is moderate and does not increase the width of the triturating surface of the upper jaw in adults. Can be distinguished from all members of subgenus Pelocomastes by the medial constriction of the anterior bridge strut suture.

Distribution —Rivers below the Arnhem Land and Kimberley escarpments from the Daly River of the Northern Territory in the east to the Fitzroy River of Western Australia in the west. The eastern boundary of its distribution is uncertain, but it is not thought to be sympatric with Elseya sp. aff. dentata (Sth Alligator) of the Arnhem Land region.