紅腹側頸龜甲橋和腹甲都呈紅色，背甲則為綠色至黑色，隨著年齡增長，甲橋和腹甲的紅色會變為橙紅或粉紅色；另外，其頭部由眼部至頸部亦有一條淡黃色的斑紋，顏色亦會隨著年齡增長而變淡，頭部無法縮入殼內，只能彎頸緊貼殼的前緣。成年的雄性尾巴會比雌性的粗及長，而雌性在交配後每窩可產7-12顆蛋，孵化約需50天，但幼龜成長速度較慢，成龜背甲最多可生長至18-25.5cm。。

The red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa), also known commonly as the pink-bellied side-necked turtle and the Jardine River turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is native to Australia and New Guinea. There are two recognized subspecies..