14 DAY TRIAL // As it turns out, Australia is home to a bunch of turtles that can do something pretty amazing: they can breathe through their behind. That's right, their behind, as in the body part that takes center stage when folks visit the loo and bring a newspaper with them.
The trouble is that, according to James Cook University researcher Jason Schaffer, these odd reptiles, known as white-throated snapping turtles, risk falling off the biodiversity map sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Possibly the world's coolest turtles
To wildlife researchers, this species of bum-breathing turtles is known as Elseya albagula. The reptiles are native to southeastern Queensland. More precisely, they populate Australia's Burnett, Mary, and Fitzroy river systems.
Unlike other reptiles of their kind, white-throated snapping turtles spend nearly their entire life in water, meaning that they only come ashore once in a blue moon. They feed on fruits, algae and all sorts of plants, and can grow to weigh about 5 kilograms (11 pounds).
Seeing how they spend most of their time swimming around, they've evolved to be able to breathe while still under water. Thus, proper lungs and nostrils aside, these reptiles also pack a set of so-called air bladders that are connected to their cloaca.
These anatomical peculiarities make it possible for white-throated snapping turtles to breathe through their behind when entirely submerged in water. Specifically, the cloaca absorbs oxygen that is then passed on to the air bladders and helps keep the reptiles alive.
The species is a critically endangered one
Having studied these amazing river dwellers for about 8 years now, James Cook University wildlife researcher Jason Schaffer warns that, under a business-as-usual-scenario, this species stands to go extinct sooner that some might expect.
The specialist says that, these days, nearly all the eggs laid by such turtles get destroyed before they get to hatch. What's more, he claims that, of the young white-throated snapping turtles that do manage to emerge from their eggs, many die after being exposed to all sorts of environmental pollutants.
The wildlife researcher points the finger at the construction of dams and weirs, as well as at agricultural and mining activities in regions populated by such reptiles. He goes on to argue that, together with the species' natural predators, those introduced by humans are likely to bring the species even closer to extinction.
“Hatchling/juvenile turtles have a higher mortality in the river, coupled with a higher reliance on aquatic respiration, and so are more vulnerable to the degradation of water quality. They are simply not surviving,” the wildlife expert said in a statement.
“They have been declared critically endangered, and if the increased water infrastructure development and drought in northern Australia continues they will continue to get hammered,” the James Cook University specialist added.
Jason Schaffer argues that, if these bum-breathing turtles are to even stand a chance at surviving in the long run, efforts need be made to protect the natural ecosystems that are not yet heavily polluted and that the reptiles can rely on to breed.
