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Maybe it’s the mohawk made of algae that sits atop the creature’s head – or perhaps the fact that it breathes through its genitals. In any case, the Mary River Turtle is a very odd and unique animal indeed.
In case you wondered, it’s the gill-like organs located within its cloaca (a multi-purpose orifice used for mating and excretion) that allows the Mary River Turtle to stay submerged underwater for up to three days.
With its 17-inch-long shell, it is considered to be one of Australia’s largest freshwater turtles! Despite its rebellious hairdo, this turtle’s docile nature makes it more hippy than punk. Sadly, numbers have dwindled over time, and the Mary River Turtle is now one of the world’s most endangered turtle species.
