Mary River ~ The Rock N Roll Turtle


Mary River ~ The Rock N Roll Turtle
The Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus, is
an endangered short-necked turtle that
inhabits the Mary River in South-East
Queensland, Australia.
In the 1960s and 1970s, they were popular
as pets in Australia, with about 15,000
sent to shops every year during a ten-year
period. They were originally known as the
"Penny Turtle" or "Pet Shop Turtle".
Hatchlings have a straight carapace length
of 2–3.5 cm. Their green mohawk are
made up of algae. This often covers the
shell as well as the head, and helps to
camouflage the animal.