Creature Day

 

Another week another creature this one is the Mary River Turtle, it can be found around the Mary River ins South-east Queensland. It is an endangered short-necked turtle around 50cm in length the females are smaller and is on of Australia's largest, however, it is not its size that makes it interesting it is that it uses it enormously long tail to breath. Yeah you read that right, it breathes through its tail, well its back passage which is why it can be called the bum-breathing turtle.

It also has exceptionally long whisker like “barbels” on its chin, inside which are its taste buds which help it feel out food.

It takes an exceptionally long time to reach maturity, the projected age at maturity is around 25 years for females and 30 years for males.

Although these turtles were known to inhabit the Mary River for nearly 30 years, it was not until 1994 that they were recognised as a new species.

In turtles like other reptiles the back passage is how they get rid of urine and faeces as well as being were their eggs pass through.