It is an unusual case for me to do a blog on both a snake and a turtle, but the creature feature for today is in fact a fantastic combination of the two. The Eastern Snake-necked turtle is identifiable by one feature: a snake neck. This bazaar turtle spends a majority of its life in the water, feeding on aquatic invertebrates. Its claws and webbed feet provide the adaptability needed to survive in their wet environment, doubling as a great shovel for digging underground. Their main defensive mechanism is not to be expected. It is not their claws or their jaws, but their stench. Eastern Snake-necked turtles will release a pungent liquid from their orifices when startled, giving them the nickname of "Stinky" turtle. These stinkers can be found in certain locations in Australia swimming in rivers. Occasionally, to find a new water hole, they will wander on land.
Links: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Eastern-Snake-necked-Turtle
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