'Punk' turtle with Mohawk style added to endangered species list

A new endangered species is making headlines and the creature is not something common. A punk-looking turtle with a green Mohawk that breathes through its genitals is not something we see every day.

The turtle, called Elusor macrurus, was found in the Mary River in Australia and scientists predict that it won’t be around for much long if not protected properly.

The 40 cm long turtle’s green Mohawk is due to the vertically growing algae that sprout from its body and head. It also has fleshy chin fingers under its chin to feel the soft river bed. If the looks were not enough, what’s more unique about the turtle is its ability to breathe through its genitals, explains Daily Mail.

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The glands found in the turtle’s reproductive organs allow it to breathe underwater where it can remain for up to three days. Its super long tail can grow up to 70% longer than the length of its complete shell. Because of these traits, the turtle has marked itself as one of the world’s most endangered turtle species.

The odd creature has been added to the list of the world’s most vulnerable reptiles, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL’s) Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (Edge) Reptiles list. Among the 500 odd reptiles, the ‘punk turtle’ has been listed at number 29, reported Science Alert.

ZSL’s coordinator Rikki Gumbs expressed, “Just as with tigers, rhinos and elephants, it is vital we do our utmost to save these unique and too often overlooked animals. Many Edge reptiles are the sole survivors of ancient lineages whose branches of the Tree of Life stretch back to the age of the dinosaurs. If we lose these species, there will be nothing like them left on Earth.”