6/21/2002: Baby soft-shelled turtle
 

http://cellar.org/2002/softshellturtle.jpg

Happy Friday. This is a two-week-old soft-shelled turtle in Thailand. The Thai are happy about the fact that this is the first one bred in captivity.

It's extremely rare. And that's what you might expect; the adults reach 450 pounds, so what you have there seems to be a massive beast with no natural protection. It probably also tough for them because the Chinese historically believe they are a source of male sexual potency.

Ironic
 

You'd think the Chinese would want a hard-shelled turtle for that.

Has anyone kept a running tally of exactly how many endangered species the Chinese believe to be aids to potency?

Cyber-beetle?
 

It looks like a giant beetle, with circuitry etched on its back. Maybe the Thai are experimenting ...

Re: Cyber-beetle?
 

Maybe it could also be seen as a symbol of geek potency.