The Mary River turtle, known for its green mohawk and unique ability to breathe through its genitals, has been added to a list of most vulnerable species.
The turtle, endemic to Queensland’s Mary River, is 30th on the Zoological Society of London’s Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered List for reptiles, which helps guide conservation priorities for the 100 most at risk species.
The endangered species, said to sport a punk-rock appearance via the vertical strands of algae which grow on its body and head, was decimated by pet collectors in the 1960’s and 1970’s raiding their nests.