Conservation Status

• National:Vulnerable

Distribution and Habitat

• Tidal and sub-tidal coral and rocky reef
  
• Tropical to warm temperate areas down to northern New South Wales.
  
• Feed along east coast, including Great Barrier Reef.
  
• Also feed in Torres Strait and the archipelagos of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, as far south as Shark Bay.

Breeding

• Breed throughout the year
  
• Northern Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait and northeastern Arnhem Land including: Milman, Johnson, Bouydong, Bird and Piper Islands in the northern GBR; Aukane, Kabikane, Mimi, Bet, Sassie and Lacey Islands in Torres Strait; and Hawk, North East and Truant Islands.
  
• Pilbara region, from the Dampier Archipelago including Rosemary, Barrow, Monte Bello and Varanus Islands, the Ningaloo coast and Coral Bay.

Nesting

• Peak in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef region - January to April
  
• Peak Arnhem Land - July and September.
• Low numbers along Great Barrier Reef, from just north of Princess Charlotte Bay to Torres Strait.
  
• Northern Territory and Western Australia.

• Emerge late December to April
  
• Peak - February to early March

Characteristics

• Distinctive parrot-like beak
  
• 4 pairs or more of large scales on either side (costal scales)
  
• Thick overlapping carapace scales
  
• Carapace low domed with upturned edges
  
• Colour olive grey
  
• Adult carapace approx. 0.8m

Diet

• Sponges, seagrass, algae, soft corals and shellfish.