A rare "fluorescent" turtle, previously thought to be extinct, has been officially sighted in Queensland for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The Jardine River Painted turtle, native to Queensland's Cape York, has not been formally sighted since 1989.

The Jardine River Painted turtle, native to Queensland's Cape York, has not been formally sighted since 1989 ... until now.

But Apudthama Cape York rangers and scientists from Origin Energy have managed to trap no less than 24 Jardine River turtles while on a remote training exercise over the past fortnight.

The turtles, of different sizes and sexes, were weighed and measured, before being released back into the wild.