Myuchelys
Encyclopedia
The Australian Saw Shelled Turtles, Myuchelys, are a genus
of turtle
s in the family
Chelidae
. They inhabit the headwaters and tributaries of rivers within their range and this led to the name Myuchelys, which is formed from the Aboriginal words Myuna meaning high water and chelys meaning turtle. They have a short neck and the intergular scute completely separates the gular scutes. They have no alveolar ridge separating them from the Snapping Turtles of the genus
Elseya
.
The genus currently contains five rather cryptic small species of freshwater turtles, endemic to eastern and northern Australia and southern New Guinea, Irian Jaya.
by Gray, 1867 but the Elseya was redifined by Boulenger
, 1889 to include species defined by the presence of an alveolar ridge. Hence Myuchelys latisternum
and Myuchelys novaeguineae
were moved to the genus Emydura
. In 1967 the two species were placed back in the genus Elseya by Goode, 1967 where they remained until recently.
During the time the species Myuchelys belli
was basically lost to knowledge having been misidentified as a South American species when described by Gray, 1844 and was in the genus Phrynops
until this oversight was corrected by Cann, 1998. The species Myuchelys georgesi
and Myuchelys purvisi
are recent editions initially placed in the genus Elseya but were identified as belonging to a unique clade along with Myuchelys latisternum
and Myuchelys belli
by Georges and Adams, 1992 using electrophoresis.
The unfortunate history of the genus now came to play. The genus name Wollumbinia was erected by Wells, 2007, however, some recent publications have claimed that this paper is in breach of the ICZN code defining a valid publication, ICZN Articles 8 and 9 and Recommendation 8D. If this is correct, then the name should not be used. Since the PDF version of the Wollumbinia paper clearly states that it is secondary to a paper version which is available upon request (not printed on request, but available on request), Wells' name Wollumbinia would appear to have been published in full compliance with ICZN Article 8 and ICZN Article 9. There is no proof in any published source that no original printed run of the article was made available in 2007, and the PDF clearly states that it was. Therefore, it must be given the benefit of any doubt, by the Principle of charity
. The reader can decide for themselves whether the issue here is "science" or just "politics", and whether there is any solid factual basis for rejecting Wells' name for this taxon. The genus encompassing these species was named Myuchelys by Thomson and Georges, 2009 and the last species, Myuchelys novaeguineae
, added to it by Georges and Thomson, 2010.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Chelidae
Chelidae
The Chelidae are one of the three living families of the turtle suborder Pleurodira and are commonly called the Austro-South American Side Neck turtles. The Family is distributed in Australia, New Guinea, parts of Indonesia and throughout most of South America. It is a large family of turtles with...
. They inhabit the headwaters and tributaries of rivers within their range and this led to the name Myuchelys, which is formed from the Aboriginal words Myuna meaning high water and chelys meaning turtle. They have a short neck and the intergular scute completely separates the gular scutes. They have no alveolar ridge separating them from the Snapping Turtles of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Elseya
Elseya
The Australian Snapping Turtles, Elseya Gray 1867, are a large genus of side-necked turtles in the family Chelidae found in river systems in northern and north eastern Australia and throughout the river systems of New Guinea...
.
The genus currently contains five rather cryptic small species of freshwater turtles, endemic to eastern and northern Australia and southern New Guinea, Irian Jaya.
- The Saw-Shelled Turtle, Myuchelys latisternumMyuchelys latisternumThe Saw-shelled turtle or Myuchelys latisternum, is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales. They are thought to have been introduced to Lake...
Gray, 1867 - Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, Myuchelys georgesiBellinger River Snapping TurtleThe Bellinger River snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
Cann, 1997 - Manning River Snapping Turtle, Myuchelys purvisiManning River Snapping TurtleThe Manning River snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
Wells & Wellington, 1985 - Namoi River Snapping Turtle, Myuchelys belliNamoi River Snapping TurtleThe Namoi River snapping turtle or Bell's turtle , is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to the upper reaches of the Namoi, Gwydir and Macdonald Rivers on the North West Slopes , Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded...
Gray, 1844 - New Guinea Snapping Turtle, Myuchelys novaeguineaeNew Guinea Snapping TurtleThe New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Asian Turtle Trade Working Group 2000. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
Meyer, 1874. This taxa has been moved to Myuchelys on the basis of DNA analysis by Georges & Thomson, 2010. The species Elseya schultzei Vogt, 1911 was considered a subspecies of Myuchelys novaeguineae by Artner (2008) and is followed here for the time being.
Taxonomic History
The members of this genus have had a long and unfortunate history with regards to their placement. The species M. latisternum was originally placed in the genus ElseyaElseya
The Australian Snapping Turtles, Elseya Gray 1867, are a large genus of side-necked turtles in the family Chelidae found in river systems in northern and north eastern Australia and throughout the river systems of New Guinea...
by Gray, 1867 but the Elseya was redifined by Boulenger
George Albert Boulenger
George Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1889 to include species defined by the presence of an alveolar ridge. Hence Myuchelys latisternum
Myuchelys latisternum
The Saw-shelled turtle or Myuchelys latisternum, is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales. They are thought to have been introduced to Lake...
and Myuchelys novaeguineae
New Guinea Snapping Turtle
The New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Asian Turtle Trade Working Group 2000. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
were moved to the genus Emydura
Emydura
The Australian short-necked turtles, Emydura, are a genus of turtles in the family Chelidae. It was paraphyletic with Elseya. Consequently, it was split into two genera Myuchelys and Elseya by Thomson & Georges, 2009....
. In 1967 the two species were placed back in the genus Elseya by Goode, 1967 where they remained until recently.
During the time the species Myuchelys belli
Namoi River Snapping Turtle
The Namoi River snapping turtle or Bell's turtle , is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to the upper reaches of the Namoi, Gwydir and Macdonald Rivers on the North West Slopes , Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded...
was basically lost to knowledge having been misidentified as a South American species when described by Gray, 1844 and was in the genus Phrynops
Phrynops
Sometimes called the bearded toadheads but better known by their scientific name of Phrynops this genus of turtles has often been a bit of a dumping ground for the short-necked South American turtles of the family Chelidae....
until this oversight was corrected by Cann, 1998. The species Myuchelys georgesi
Bellinger River Snapping Turtle
The Bellinger River snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
and Myuchelys purvisi
Manning River Snapping Turtle
The Manning River snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
are recent editions initially placed in the genus Elseya but were identified as belonging to a unique clade along with Myuchelys latisternum
Myuchelys latisternum
The Saw-shelled turtle or Myuchelys latisternum, is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales. They are thought to have been introduced to Lake...
and Myuchelys belli
Namoi River Snapping Turtle
The Namoi River snapping turtle or Bell's turtle , is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is endemic to the upper reaches of the Namoi, Gwydir and Macdonald Rivers on the North West Slopes , Australia.-External links:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded...
by Georges and Adams, 1992 using electrophoresis.
The unfortunate history of the genus now came to play. The genus name Wollumbinia was erected by Wells, 2007, however, some recent publications have claimed that this paper is in breach of the ICZN code defining a valid publication, ICZN Articles 8 and 9 and Recommendation 8D. If this is correct, then the name should not be used. Since the PDF version of the Wollumbinia paper clearly states that it is secondary to a paper version which is available upon request (not printed on request, but available on request), Wells' name Wollumbinia would appear to have been published in full compliance with ICZN Article 8 and ICZN Article 9. There is no proof in any published source that no original printed run of the article was made available in 2007, and the PDF clearly states that it was. Therefore, it must be given the benefit of any doubt, by the Principle of charity
Principle of charity
In philosophy and rhetoric, the principle of charity requires interpreting a speaker's statements to be rational and, in the case of any argument, considering its best, strongest possible interpretation...
. The reader can decide for themselves whether the issue here is "science" or just "politics", and whether there is any solid factual basis for rejecting Wells' name for this taxon. The genus encompassing these species was named Myuchelys by Thomson and Georges, 2009 and the last species, Myuchelys novaeguineae
New Guinea Snapping Turtle
The New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Asian Turtle Trade Working Group 2000. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
, added to it by Georges and Thomson, 2010.