- Turtle with a ‘fluffy’ shell was spotted swimming through Byron Bay in Australia
- It’s carapace – top shell – is covered in algae and seaweed which appear ‘fluffy’ when it’s in the water
- It was photographed by Australian snapper Craig Perry, 37, during a dive last month
Turtles are not known to be the cuddliest of animals, but this particular reptile looks like it is covered in a fluffy coat thanks to algae and seaweed covering its shell.
The Logger Head Turtle’s head and legs appear to be covered in tiny barnacles and tiny bits of sea weed.
Algae growing on a turtle’s shell is not harmful, and most wild turtles have some growing on their carapace – top shell. However it is not known what effect such a large extent of growths may have on a turtle.
Get your coat: This turtle’s ‘algae garden’ on its shell looks more like a fluffy coat when it swims through the water
Australian photographer Craig Perry, 37, snapped the turtle during a dive through the Pass reef in Byron Bay, Australia last month.
Mr Perry said: ‘He appeared to be very active around me and not shy but obviously in need of a good clean.
‘In all my years of diving I haven’t come across such a ‘fluffy’ turtle.
‘I was surprised to see such growth on the turtle’s shell and I was concerned about its overall health but turtles are incredible at healing.
‘I notified the local authorities but finding this guy again is like a looking for a needle in a haystack.’
Not so cuddly: The turtle’s legs and head is also covered in seaweed and algae as well as barnacles
Happy home: The turtle was snapped as it was swimming through the Pass reef in Byron Bay, Australia last month