New species of freshwater turtle found in Papua New Guinea

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TurtleImage source, AFP PHOTO / EXXONMOBIL PNG

A new species of freshwater turtle has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, a mountainous and tropical country in the south Pacific Ocean.

The turtle is one of three distantly-related species found across Papua New Guinea and neighbouring parts of Indonesia.

The three species are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor about 17 to 19 million years ago.

One of the new turtle's unique features is its reddish colour.

Image source, AFP PHOTO / EXXONMOBIL PNG