At a Glance

The Mary River turtle can remain underwater for up to three days by breathing through special glands in an orifice used for reproduction and excretion.It ranked No. 30 on the EDGE of Extinction, a list ranking the 100 most evolutionarilydistinct and globally endangered reptiles.

A comical looking, green-haired turtlethat breathes through an orifice used for reproduction and excretion has been added to a list ranking the 100 most evolutionarilydistinct and globally endangered reptiles (EDGE).

Otherwise known as the Mary River turtle because it is endemic to the Mary River in eastern Queensland, Australia, the Elusor macruruswas ranked No. 30 compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Already on the Queensland Endangered Species List, the, which means it breathes oxygen using special glands in the orifice used for reproduction and excretion. It can remain underwater for up to three days, according to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

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The unusual creature that can grow to17 inches long also possessesfour chin barbels used as feelers, and the males have an unusually long tail for freshwater turtles.

The species has suffered through the years from the illegal pet trade. In the 1960s and 1970s, juvenile turtles were collected and sold as "penny turtles," which effectively wiped out ageneration of the turtles that are slow to mature sexually and typically don't reproduce until they are 25 years old.

Today, the biggest threats to the imperiled turtle come from egg predation from feral animals and goannas, as well as nest trampling by cattle. The water quality of the river has also degraded in the past 20 years.

"Parts of the Mary River catchment have been cleared and heavily grazed, and on these reaches of the river, the turtle is threatened bythe effects of increased runoff, siltation and pollution," the Queensland agency said.

ZSL’s list provides wildlife scientists worldwide with a "scientifically rigorous way of focusing their conservation efforts on those animals that effectively represent their own distinct branches ," the organization noted in a press release.

Other species on the list include theleatherback, ranked No. 85, andthe Madagascan big-headed turtle, which ranked No. 1.