Emydura macquarii
Encyclopedia
The Murray River Turtle (Emydura macquarii) is a wide ranging species that occurs throughout many of the rivers of the eastern half of Australia. It is found primarily in the Murray River Basin and all its major tributaries, along with a number of coastal rivers up the New South Wales Coast. It is also found in the coastal Queensland Rivers and the Cooper Creek System, along with Fraser Island.
(1794–1838) in 1824. During an expedition on the La Coquille, captained by Louis Isidore Duperrey
, which visited Sydney, Australia from 17 January - 25 March 1824. During this time it seems they visited Bathurst, and collected the holotype from the Macquarie River (Cann, 1998).
The first description of the species was offered by Baron Georges Cuvier
in 1929 but this description is nowadays seen as a nomen novem. Hence the description by John Edward Gray
in 1831 is considered the valid description.
for whom the river is also named after (Cann 1998).
The species common names are Murray River Turtle, Murray River Tortoise, Macquarie Turtle, Murray Short Neck Turtle, etc.
Collection History and Discovery
This species has a long and complicated nomenclatural history including even its original description. The holotype was originally collected by René Primevère Lesson (1794–1849) and Prosper GarnotProsper Garnot
Prosper Garnot was a French surgeon and naturalist.Garnot was born at Brest. He was an assistant surgeon under Louis Isidore Duperrey on La Coquille during its circumnavigation of the globe . Along with Rene Primevere Lesson he collected numerous natural history specimens in South America and the...
(1794–1838) in 1824. During an expedition on the La Coquille, captained by Louis Isidore Duperrey
Louis Isidore Duperrey
Louis Isidore Duperrey was a French sailor and explorer.Duperrey joined the navy in 1800, and served as marine hydrologist to Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet aboard the Uranie...
, which visited Sydney, Australia from 17 January - 25 March 1824. During this time it seems they visited Bathurst, and collected the holotype from the Macquarie River (Cann, 1998).
The first description of the species was offered by Baron Georges Cuvier
Georges Cuvier
Georges Chrétien Léopold Dagobert Cuvier or Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier , known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist...
in 1929 but this description is nowadays seen as a nomen novem. Hence the description by John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
in 1831 is considered the valid description.
Etymology
The generic name Emydura is derived from the Greek emys (freshwater turtle) and the Greek oura (tail), Latinized to ura. Its grammatical gender is feminine. The specific epithet of the species refers to the turtle's type location: the Macquarie River, it would seem that species was not named after Governor Lachlan MacquarieLachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
for whom the river is also named after (Cann 1998).
The species common names are Murray River Turtle, Murray River Tortoise, Macquarie Turtle, Murray Short Neck Turtle, etc.