Matamata Turtle
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Matamata turtle, Chelusfimbriatus, may reach a carapace length of 18 inches, and is bizarre in appearance.
Matamata Turtle
Range:
Northern South America including Amazon and Orinoco River drainages.
Habitat:
Prefers the still waters of lakes and ponds, but also found in rivers. Can survive extended periods of time in brackish water.
Matamata Species Profile
The matamata appears occasionally in the pet trade. The matamata is a sedentary, aquatic species that has a remarkable appearance.
Matamata
Related Category: Vertebrate Zoology
see side-necked turtle.
More on Matamata
Side-necked Turtle - name for the long-necked turtle of the families Chelidae and Pelomedusidae, found only in the Southern Hemisphere.
Matamata turtles reach sexual maturity at about age five, at which point the females may begin laying clutches of eggs on high ground near a river or creek.
The Matamata Turtle gets quite large, up to 18", and almost exclusively eats live fish. It will need a large warm environment and close attention paid to its water conditions.
Matamata Turtle (Chelus fimbriatus)
Below you will find a collection of photos from various places. Except where noted, pictures were taken by Rhett A. Butler, copyright 1994-2007. While these images are the property of mongabay.
- Many aquatic turtles, like the matamata Chelus fimbriatus, use the "gape and suck" method to eat. They lie in wait for a fish to come by, then suddenly open their mouths wide and expand their throats, which sucks in the fish.
Paolillo, and O. J. Linares. 1995. Geographic variation in the matamata turtle, Chelus fimbriatus, with observations on its shell morphology and morphometry. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1:293-300.
 See also: Shell, Reptile, Box Turtle, Snake-necked Turtle, Coral
  
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