Green-Haired Mary River Turtle

The Mary River turtle lives exclusively in the waters of the Mary River in south-east Queensland, Australia.

The Mary River turtle managed to avoid detection for so long possibly due to its extraordinary respiratory system that allows it to breath underwater, therefore seldom requiring to emerge out of the water for air.

The turtle performs this unusual feat by breathing through its cloaca, an orifice used by reptiles for excretion and mating.

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Photo: Chris Van Wyk

One of the most distinctive feature of the Mary River turtle is its shock of green hair and whiskers.

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Photo: robdowner/Shutterstock.com

These are nothing but sprouts of algae that grow over its head and shell.

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The Mary River Turtle: rare footage of a special reptile