Mata Mata turtle

Description:



Chelus fimbriata, the matamata turtle (Family Chelidae), is the largest member of its pleurodiran family, and is surely the most bizarre turtle in the world. It has an exceedingly rough, tuberculate carapace, a greatly elongated and thickened neck, and a wide, triangular, extremely flattened head, with a tubular nasal extension, reduced anteriorly displaced eyes, and an extremely wide mouth. It is specialized for feeding upon live fish that it sweeps into its mouth by a rapid lateral strike of the neck and jaws, and a vigorous simultaneous expansion of the hyoid apparatus in the neck. It is distributed widely in South America, and currently does not appear to be threatened significantly anywhere in its range.




Distribution:

Chelus fimbriatus ranges from the Amazon and Orinoco river systems in Venezuela and Colombia, south to the Tocatina, Araguala, and Xingu rivers of Brazil and Bolivia. Its range also extends west to Equador and Peru, and east into the eastern Amazon river basin. It also occurs on the island of Trinidad.

Chelus fimbriatus has been reportedly introduced into the drainage canals of southeast Florida, though a self-sustaining breeding population has not been confirmed. This introduction may be due to carelesness associated with the pet trade. Possible detrimental effects on Florida's native habitat have not yet been noted or investigated (Ernst and Barbour 1989, Espenshade 1990, USGS Biological Research Division 1999)

Habitate:

Chelus fimbriatus prefers shallow, slow moving, turbid bodies of water such as rivers, blackwater streams, swamps, and marshes. The brackish waters of the lower Amazon basin are also inhabited. Soft muddy bottoms are prefered. Chelus fimbriatus is totally aquatic and rarely moves over land (Ernst and Barbour 1989, Espenshade 1990).

Habitat Regions: tropical ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp

Reproduction:

Breeding occurs once every year, from October through December. Prior to mating, the male repetitively extends the head toward the female, while opening and closing its mouth. Other male displays include extending their limbs, lunging their heads toward the females, and moving the lateral flaps on their heads.

After about 200 days, females lay 12 to 28 brittle, spherical, 3.5 cm (~ 1.3 in) in diameter eggs that are deposited in a clutch. After hatching occurs, the young turtles are left all alone. No parental care has been reported.


 Interesting Facts about the Mata mata turtle:

- The species was first described by French naturalist Pierre Barrère (1690 - 1755) in 1741 as a "large land turtle with spiky and ridged scales" (translation). Initially, it was classified as Testudo fimbriata by German naturalist Johann Gottlob Schneider (1750 - 1822) in 1783. The species was actually renamed 14 different times until it was finally classified as Chelus fimbriata in 1992.

- It is the largest member of the pleurodiran family

- The carapace is commonly covered by algae, which further enhances the turtle's camouflage capacity.