Turtles

Turtles Of The Great Barrier Reef

These are the many faces of the turtle species residing on Heron Island

Heron Island is a stunning coral cay situated in the Southern Great Barrier Reef of Australia, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) north-east of Gladstone and 460 km (290 mi) north-north-west of the state capital Brisbane, Australia. The island is surrounded by picture perfect reefs including Heron Reef, a fringing platform reef of significant biodiversity, and is also home to over 200,00 species of birds including Mutton Birds & Noddy Turns.

Only a small island at about 800 metres long and 300 metres at its widest, with it's highest point, near the western tip, is 3.6 metres above sea level.

Dive in to the tropical blue waters of Heron to experience amazing marine life right off the beach including turtles, reef sharks, a large amount of different specials of rays and more colourful fish than you can count.

© Meaghan Skinner

Cooper Creek Turtle, Longreach QLD

This Cooper Creek Short-necked Turtle wandered into my backyard in Longreach, QLD. I took some photos before I released him back into the Thomson River. This is the largest sub-species of Emydura with adults having shell lengths well over 40cm. This species is named after local grazier Angus Emmott who lodged the type specimens.

© ©Henry Cook 2013

Juvenile hawksbill sea turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata, found near the shore of Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia

© Xavier Hoenner Photography

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