• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trending Worldwide
  • Careers

Bom Boh

enthusiasm for knowledge

Ad example

Green-haired turtle that breathes through its genitals added to endangered list

by David Walker 1 Comment

ShareTweet

With its punky green mohican the striking Mary river turtle joins a new ZSL list of the world’s most vulnerable reptiles

The Mary River turtle, found in Queensland, Australia, features on a new list of the most vulnerable reptile species on the planet. Photograph: Chris Van Wyk/ZSL/PA

It sports a green mohican, fleshy finger-like growths under its chin and can breathe through its genitals.

The Mary river turtle is one of the most striking creatures on the planet, and it is also one of the most endangered.

The 40cm long turtle, which is only found on the Mary river in Queensland, features in a new list of the most vulnerable reptile species compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Despite the turtle’s punk appearance – derived from vertical strands of algae that also grow on its body – its docile nature made it historically popular as a pet.

Gill-like organs within its cloaca – an orifice used by reptiles for excretion and mating – enable it to stay underwater for up to three days, but it was unable to hide from the pet collectors who raided its nests during the 1960s and 1970s.

The turtle is placed at 30th on ZSL’s Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (Edge) list for reptiles. First established in 2007, Edge lists have previously been published for amphibians, birds, corals and mammals, helping guide conservation priorities for 100 most at-risk species. Each species is given a score which combines extinction risk with its evolutionary isolation or uniqueness, with the latest list supported by a study in the journal Plos One.

Top of the list is the Madagascar big-headed turtle, which has an Edge score higher than that of any other amphibian, bird or mammal, and is still taken for food and global trade.

Other unusual and endangered species include the Round Island keel-scaled boa from Mauritius, a snake which is the only terrestrial vertebrate known to have a hinged upper jaw; the minute leaf chameleon from Madagascar which is the size of a human thumbnail; and the gharial, a slender-snouted fish-eating freshwater crocodile. Less than 235 gharial survive in the rivers of northern India and Nepal.

The Mary Rriver turtle is one of the most striking creatures on the planet, and it is also one of the most endangered.

Rikki Gumbs, co-ordinator of Edge reptiles, said: “Reptiles often receive the short end of the stick in conservation terms, compared with the likes of birds and mammals. However, the Edge reptiles list highlights just how unique, vulnerable and amazing these creatures really are.”

He added: “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.”

Facebook Comments Box

Filed Under: Animal Tagged With: Green-haired

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anita Pierce says

    11/12 at

    This is so sad!
    Do people poach them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

More to See

Animals roam freely while humans are caged at this zoo

By David Walker

These are photos of dragonflies, don’t they look like magical fairies in the fading light?

By David Walker

Harriet (tortoise)

By David Walker

A magnificent life-sized octopus crafted with meticulous and thorough hand-cut detailing!

By David Walker

Abandoned dog was found starving in the middle of the road — now she’s getting the life she deserves

By David Walker

They Record Two Dolphins Fighting for Their Lives When a Group of Young People Show Their Love for Them

By David Walker

The World’s Largest Orca Pod Was Captured on Camera Off the Coast of Norway

By David Walker

Footer

Bom Boh

We Love Animals give you the news that truly matters to you. Read, look and share the things you are interested in. Welcome!

Recent

  • Man points camera at ice – then captures the unimaginable on film
  • UPS driver, who forms bond with pit bull while on delivery route, adopts him after owner dies
  • Ancient Lycians: A Glimpse into their Unique Funerary Culture
  • Dog rescued from shelter now rides in custom sidecar on owner’s motorcycle
  • Scared shelter dog jumps for joy when he realizes he’s being adopted

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in