Critically Endangered Snapping Turtles Found in New Australian Habitat
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There are a few more white-throated snapping turtles in Queensland, Australia than researchers previously thought, which is great news for the 'bum-breathing', critically endangered species.
While the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG)-- a natural resource management organization-- was exploring Baffle Creek for an unrelated project, the team happened upon three of the rare snapping turtles. This species has never been recorded in this region, notes ABC Wide Bay, so researchers hope the discovery of the two males and one female could be a sign of population growth.
This definitely sounds like good news for the wild turtles, the scientists, and the environment! When considering the near-extinct status of this snapping turtle species, it's easy to see why BMRG research director Tom Espinoza called this an "exciting find."
What makes this species especially exciting is their unique ability to breathe from their anus. They're also the largest freshwater turtle species in Australia, so there are many reasons to appreciate these animals.
When a species is considered critically endangered, as the white-throated snapping turtles are, they are one step away from extinction. However, the discovery of three adults in this location may suggest that there are even more turtles in the area.
"If we had found one, that might've just been an anomaly or translocation, but to find two males and one female is a significant finding," Espinoza told ABC Wide Bay. "It means there's probably more turtles throughout the Baffle catchment, and they are a self-sustaining population potentially."
To determine whether this is a self-sustaining population, BMRG will conduct more research of waterways in the area where the turtles were found. If so, the rise of this new population could be the saving grace of the species as a whole.
Espinoza explained, "Being critically endangered, the species does have a very low genetic diversity, which affects survivability and population viability into the future. So if this population has a unique genetic signature, or has some genetic diversity within it, that's really important for the species more broadly as well."
Needless to say, wildlife lovers will be waiting with bated breath for updates from the upcoming research.
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