An Australian river turtle with a distinctive green punk-rock hairstyle and two spikes under its chin, the Mary River turtle, native to Queensland, Australia, has the unusual ability to breathe underwater through specialized glands in its cloaca (yes, his ass).
This biological function allows the turtle – referred to as a “butt breather” – to stay underwater for up to three days. That ability also usually provides these turtles with a vibrant green mohawk, the result of algae growing on their heads because of the extended time spent submerged.
These turtles spend most of their time in the water and are powerful swimmers. Females of this species usually lay up to 15 eggs on the banks of rivers or streams. When the young hatch, they are immediately able to move around and find food on their own.
The Australian ‘genital-breathing’ turtle faces extinction. Sea turtles have lived for over 110 million years and are now considered to be endangered, relying on the work of conservationists to prevent their extinction over the next 50 years.