Roti Snake-necked Turtle
CR

Roti Snake-necked Turtle

Chelodina mccordi

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti_Island_snake-necked_turtle

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Chelodina mccordi faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in eastern Indonesia. The species is heavily exploited for the international pet trade, with wild populations experiencing unsustainable collection pressure. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste further degrades the freshwater systems this turtle depends upon for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits shallow freshwater environments including swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams in lowland areas of eastern Indonesia. It prefers areas with dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrates where it can forage for invertebrates and small fish.

Artificial - Aquatic & marine· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Roti Snake-necked Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Roti Snake-necked Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Chelodina mccordi faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in eastern Indonesia. The species is heavily exploited for the international pet trade, with wild populations experiencing unsustainable collection pressure. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste further degrades the freshwater systems this turtle depends upon for survival.
Where does Roti Snake-necked Turtle live?
Roti Snake-necked Turtle occurs in Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Roti Snake-necked Turtle?
The main threats to Roti Snake-necked Turtle are 11.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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