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Mata mata Temporal range: Pliocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Shanghai Aquarium
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	Chelidae
Subfamily:	Chelinae
Genus:	Chelus Duméril, 1806[3]
Species:	C. fimbriata
Binomial name
Chelus fimbriata (Schneider, 1783)[2]
Mata mata distribution
Synonyms[1][6]
Genus Synonymy Chelus Duméril, 1806[3] Chelys Oppel, 1811 (nomen novum)[4] Chelyda Rafinesque, 1815 (nomen novum) Matamata Merrem, 1820 (nomen novum) Species Synonymy Testudo terrestris Fermin, 1765 Nomen rejectum[5] Testudo fimbriata Schneider, 1783[2] Testudo fimbria Gmelin, 1789 nomen novum Testudo matamata Bruguière, 1792 nomen novum Testudo bispinosa Daudin, 1801 nomen novum Emydes matamata Brongniart, 1805 Chelus fimbriata (Schneider, 1783) recombination[3] Testudo rapara Gray, 1831 nomen novum Testudo raparara Gray, 1844 nomen novum Testudo raxarara Gray, 1856 nomen novum Chelys boulengerii Baur, 1890 nomen novum

The mata mata, mata-mata, or matamata (Chelus fimbriata)^[1][7] is a freshwater turtle found in South America, primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is the only extant species in the genus Chelus.

Taxonomy

The mata mata was described for the first time by French naturalist Pierre Barrère in 1741 as a "large land turtle with spiky and ridged scales" (translation).^[8] It was first classified as Testudo fimbriata by German naturalist Johann Gottlob Schneider in 1783. It was renamed 14 different times in two centuries, finally being renamed Chelus fimbriata in 1992.^{[1][8][9][10]}

Anatomy and morphology

Top view of the mata mata turtle

The mata mata is a large, sedentary turtle with a large, triangular, flattened head with many tubercles and flaps of skin, and a "horn" on its long and tubular snout.^[8] Three barbels occur on the chin and four additional filamentous barbels at the upper jaw, which is neither hooked nor notched.^[11]

The mata mata's brown or black, oblong carapace can measure up to 45 cm (18 in) at adult age.^[12] The full adult weight is 15 kg (33 lb).^[12] The mata mata's plastron is reduced, narrowed, hingeless, shortened towards the front, and deeply notched at the rear with narrow bridges.^[11] These may be meant to allow the turtle to resemble a piece of bark, camouflaging it from possible predators.^[13] The plastron and bridges are cream to yellow or brown.^[11]

The head, neck, tail, and limbs are grayish brown on adults.^[11] The neck is longer than the vertebra under its carapace and is fringed with small skin flaps along both sides.^[11] Hatchlings show a pink to reddish tinge in the underside edge of their carapaces and plastrons that gradually disappear as they grow.

Each fore foot has five webbed claws. Males have concave plastrons and longer, thicker tails than females.^[11]

Habitat

The mata mata inhabits slow moving, blackwater streams, stagnant pools, marshes, and swamps ranging into northern Bolivia, eastern Peru, Ecuador, eastern Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern and central Brazil. The mata mata is strictly an aquatic species but it prefers standing in shallow water where its snout can reach the surface to breathe.^[14]

Behavior

Head, in profile

The appearance of the mata mata's shell resembles a piece of bark, and its head resembles fallen leaves.^[15] As it remains motionless in the water, its skin flaps enable it to blend into the surrounding vegetation until a fish comes close.^[15] The mata mata thrusts out its head and opens its large mouth as wide as possible, creating a low-pressure vacuum that sucks the prey into its mouth, known as suction feeding.^[15] The mata mata snaps its mouth shut, the water is slowly expelled, and the fish is swallowed whole; the mata mata cannot chew due to the way its mouth is constructed.^[15]

Reproduction

Males display for females by extending their limbs, lunging their heads toward the females with mouths agape, and moving the lateral flaps on their heads. Nesting occurs from October through December in the Upper Amazon. The 12 to 28 brittle, spherical, 35 mm-diameter eggs are deposited in a clutch.

Diet

The mata mata is carnivorous, feeding exclusively upon aquatic invertebrates and fish.^[8][15]

Mata mata turtles use a specific method of seizing their prey. They will move the prey into shallower areas of water, surround the prey, and wave their front legs to prevent them from escaping. Once surrounded, the mata mata turtles will open their mouths and contract their pharynx, causing a rush of water that pushes the prey into their mouth.^[16]

In captivity

Mata mata turtles on exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mata mata turtles are readily available in the exotic pet trade and are quite expensive to obtain. Due to their unique appearance, they make interesting display animals. They also grow quite large. However, mata matas are not active hunters, so, like the alligator snapping turtle, they need less space than a large, active species.

As with all aquatic turtles, water quality is one of the keys to keeping this species successfully in captivity. Warm, acidic water is the best type used with a high tannin content that should be maintained all year round. Moderate to heavy filtration is recommended.^[17]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chelus fimbriata.

Wikispecies has information related to Chelus fimbriata

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  Chelus fimbriata, The Reptile Database