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15 years. Weight. 15. kg lbs. Length. 45. cm inch. The mata mata, mata-mata, or matamata (Chelus fimbriata ) is a freshwater turtle species found in South America, primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is one of two extant species in the genus Chelus, the other being Chelus orinocensis.
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Væsentlig fakta om : levetid, udbredelse og habitatkort,...
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Faits de base sur Matamata : durée de vie, distribution et...
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Die Fransenschildkröte oder Mata-Mata (Chelus fimbriata) ist...
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The mata mata, mata-mata, or matamata (Chelus fimbriata) [7] is a South American species of freshwater turtle found in the Amazon basin and river system of the eastern Guianas. It was formerly believed to also occur in the Orinoco basin, western Guianas and upper Rio Negro – Branco system, but in 2020 these populations were found to belong to a separate species, Chelus orinocensis (Orinoco ...
- Mata Mata Profile
- Interesting Mata Mata Facts
- Mata Mata Fact-File Summary
The mata mata, or sometimes “matamata”, is one of the largest freshwater turtles. These well-camouflaged South American reptiles dress like a piece of wood with spiky ridged scales, and suck in fish from the murky shallows.
1. They have flaps for camouflage
These turtles are covered in ridges, lumps and flaps of skin, making them ‘aesthetically challenged’, from a mammalian perspective. However, these flaps serve a number of clever purposes and are apparently quite attractive if you’re a female mata mata (more on that below). One of the major redeeming features of being infested with gross protuberances is that you resemble decaying wood and generalised swampy putrefaction; stuff that’s relatively common and inedible in the habitat of the mata m...
2. They have flaps for sensing movement
But that’s not all! These turtle flaps wave about in the water and are well innervated to pick up vibrations. As such, they act a lot like the whiskers of a cat: sending information about the movement of the water to the turtle; useful for hunting, sensing the direction of flow, and avoiding big splashy dangers like crocodiles entering the water.
3. They shepherd food into their mouths
The mata mata has a strange way of hunting. In Trinidad, it’s been observed hunting at night with a unique method of herding its prey. They’ve been observed chasing their prey items into the corner of an aquarium, where they remain trapped. From here, they’re able to make use of a suction method of feeding – much like some fish species – by lunching with their heads while opening their mouths. This creates a vacuum that pulls the surrounding water (and the fish in it) into the mouth of the tu...
Scientific Classification
1. William H. Espenshade, III (1990), “Matamata, Chelus fimbriatus“, California Turtle & Tortoise Club. 2. Richard C. Vogt, David Sever (1998), “Esophageal Papillae in Pelomedusid Turtles“, Journal of herpetology. 3. John Virata (2020), “Researchers Describe New Mata Mata Turtle Species“, Reptiles Magazine. 4. Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum (2020), “New species of turtle discovered“, Phys.org.
- Reptilia
- Chordata
- Testudines
- What is a mata mata turtle? Mata mata turtles are aquatic turtles that live in the rivers and swamps of South America. They’re a freshwater species, so you won’t find them on salty shores, but they’re spread out just about everywhere else.
- What other names does the mata mata turtle have? You might see the mata mata turtle referred to as the “matamata,” “mata mata,” or “mata-mata.” They’re all equally valid spellings.
- What is the mata mata turtles Latin name? The scientific name of the mata mata turtle is Chelus fimbriata. It’s derived from the Latin words for “tortoise” (chelys) and “fringed” (fimbriatus).
- How to say mata mata turtle? Pronunciation. “Mata mata” is pronounced with an “ah” sound like the one heard in “father.” Some people mispronounce this, but you don’t have to be one of them!
The matamata is a carnivore. Their diet consists of fish and invertebrates. On a rare occasion they may eat a small bird, amphibian or mammal that has entered the water. To catch food they will spend their time sitting on the bottom of the water course they call home. When prey swims past the mouth will open and suck in water drawing the prey ...
Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection. The matamata is a South American turtle with a striking appearance. Its carapace, or shell, is rough and knobby, and its long neck has skin fringes, bumps and ridges. The matamata turtle's large, flat head features a wide mouth and a long, snorkel-like snout.
Dec 6, 2023 · The matamata is probably the ugliest turtle in the world, but its ugliness has a purpose. The coloration and shape of its carapace, limbs, and head resemble leaf and bark debris. Such debris is found on the bottoms of the stagnant rivers, creeks, marshes, and even drainage ditches where it lives. This camouflage protects the turtle from predators.
