CHELODINA MCCORDI
Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle

    • Habitat:
      - Small, shallow,
      - Lakes
      - Swamps
      - Marshes
      - Rice Paddies
    • Threats:
      - Habitat Destruction, Alteration, and Conversion
      - Collection for the Pet Trade
      - Pollution
      - Introduced Predatory Fish
    • Conservation Efforts:
      - Captive breeding and assurance colonies
      - Genetic management
      - Reintroduction efforts
      - Field surveys
      - Protected in Indonesia
      - CITES Appendix II
    • Wild Population:
      - Presumed extinct in the wild
      - Estimated population reduction estimated greater than 99%
    • Endangered Status:
      Critically Endangered

Fast Facts

On June 18th, 2019 East Nusa Tenggara established the Rote Essential Ecosystem Areas in an effort to protect and reintroduce this iconic species. The designation of the three lakes (Peto, Lendoen and Ledulu) as KEE is a very good effort for the protection of the LAST FEASIBLE HABITAT of the Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle.

Species Snapshot

The Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle is one of 32 turtle species found in Indonesia and is one of the world’s 25 rarest turtles. Since 2018, IUCN has put the Chelodina mccordi population on Rote Island under critically endangered – possibly extinct in nature status (CR-PEW).

The Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina mccordi) is endemic to the tiny island of Rote in Indonesia. There, intensive collection for the international pet trade has led to presumed extinction of the wild population. Now, it’s one of the most endangered turtles in the world.

The Rote Island Snake-necked turtle is a side-necked turtle, meaning that it doesn’t retract it’s head and neck straight back into it’s shell. Instead, they lay their head and neck horizontally along the front of their body.