Confirmation of an established population of exotic turtles in urban Sydney

I investigated whether exotic turtle species were capable of establishing breeding populations in the Sydney area and confirmed that two exotic species were present: Trachemys scripta elegans and Clemmys marmorata. Mature females of both species were recorded with shelled eggs in the oviducts and evidence of nesting by T.s. elegans species was noted. Trachemys scripta elegans were observed in a range of sizes which suggested that it has established a foothold, at least in southern Sydney. Competition from this exotic species could have a detrimental impact on the local species, Chelodina longicollis and Emydura macquarii dharuk.