For a long time, this turtle was thought to be a possibly closely related, but different species. It has since been identified as being an outlying group of Bell's Turtles, with the main population being further south.

In Girraween, the turtle is found only in the stretches of Bald Rock Creek below Dr Roberts' Waterhole. They can sometimes be seen sunning themselves on rocks and logs in the swimming hole near the park's camping areas. As very little is known about these turtles, some have had their back legs tagged as part of an ongoing research project.

Bell's Turtles like to live in creeks with the occasional pool where aquatic plants can grow. They are primarily a vegetarian — eating aquatic weeds, the short stems of plants and terrestrial leaves — but they will also eat insects and the occasional crayfish.

Breeding occurs in Spring and Summer, when the female lays her eggs in a nest dug out in a sandy bank. The babies hatch after about 80 days.