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Step 1
Note the flattened, oval-shaped shell of the snake-necked turtle. It is brown with a black pattern on its top-shell, and the plates on the bottom have unique black seams. Young snake-necked turtles have bright orange or red bottom shells, differentiating them from adults.
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Step 2
Look at the neck of the snake-neck, which makes it distinct from other turtles. The neck is often longer than the upper shell and is pulled into the shell sideways, tucking its head and neck inside. It is carnivorous, eating insects, small fish, crustaceans and tadpoles, catching them by sneaking up on them with head tipped sideways and then snapping its neck forward and grabbing them with its mouth.
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Step 3
Notice the feet of the snake-necked turtle. They are sharp-clawed and webbed to aid in swimming. The claws are very useful for tearing up large prey and digging holes in which to lay eggs. The turtle covers up the eggs by kicking sand over them with its hind feet and then tamping down the sand with its body.
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Step 4
Think twice before you pick up a snake-necked turtle. Harmless as they may be, they do have defense mechanisms. The turtle has musk glands that release a foul-smelling liquid when it is afraid or wants to warn off predators. Another survival tactic they have is to bury themselves in the mud when threatened by drought or to migrate to other bodies of water when food runs low.
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Step 5
Leave them alone if possible. These are shy creatures which like to bask on fallen logs or stones. Snake-necked turtles have a funny way of using their dark-skinned heads as snorkels as they swim through the water. The young (anywhere from four to twenty-four in a clutch) creep into the shallow water immediately after breaking out of their hard, spiky shells, to hide in the shadows.
