Of Algae, Smiles, and Yoga

Rasmus, Kat, and Ida forwarded me this link (synchronicity at play). You're looking at a Mary River Turtle whose head (and face and shell) have sprouted a living crop of algae. I imagine these shallow-water dwellers aren't the fastest moving of turtles, which is saying something.

The Mary River Turtle is native to, can you guess it, the Mary River in Australia. It's become an icon for the environmental movement down there, as it is threatened, and is further endangered by government plans to construct a dam on the river. What's amazing about this turtle is that it breathes through lung-like structures in its tail. Is the snout cosmetic only? Does it breathe through its tail, or does it breathe through its nose all the way down to its tail? If the latter is true (which it must be), then that puts yoga breathing exercises to shame.

Without lungs in its thoracic cavity, that leaves more room for...what? Liver, gizzard, stomach? Or could it be heart? How precious can this little creature get? A big hearted, algae haired, blue-green eyed, yogic, smiling creature that slowly wades through the shallows of a river under threat. I need to sit down and write a children's story.

Photo source: Chris Van Wyk via DailyMail.co.uk