Bum-Breathing Turtle

Introduction The Fitzroy River Turtle (Rheodytes leukops) is a unique turtle found only in the Fitzroy River in eastern Queensland. The R. leukops is able to breathe normally above water but can remain underwater for anywhere up to twenty one days during winter and four days during spring. It is able to remain submerged for such phenomenal amounts of time due to an extremely unusual respiratory function. The R. leukops can survive on oxygen extracted …

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