Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle. Turtle is the name for a reptile that is easily recognized by looking at a kind of shell on its back. There are many species of sea turtle known to man, each of which has different physical and behavioral characteristics.

Of the many types of turtles, one type of turtle that is quite interesting and different from other turtles is the matamata turtle. Want to know what is so interesting about this turtle? If so, let's read my writing.

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

The matamata turtle or in scientific language, Chelus fimbriatus is a type of freshwater turtle originating from tropical South America, particularly the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

According to one theory, the name matamata turtle's eye comes from the Tupi-Guarani language - the name of a South American native tribe - which means to kill.

Matamata turtle is easily recognized by its strange shape. The neck is long and widened with a head in the shape of a wide triangle, while the skin is covered in long, tassel-like protrusions. Horn-like body parts can also be found at the top of the snout.

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

The part that resembles the horn itself is actually the nasal passages and is commonly used by the matamata turtle as a snorkeling spot. By simply touching the tip of the nose above the surface, the matamata turtle can still breathe while remaining underwater.

Eating By Sucking Water

The physical shape of the Matamata turtle is not without reason. Such form is a method of adaptation in foraging for food and for survival. Matamata turtle are passive hunters, meaning they forage silently and wait for prey to pass by.

By taking advantage of its physical appearance that resembles dead plants or dry leaves, the Matamata turtle can disguise the waters where it lives, which are usually rivers, lakes, or swamps with calm and murky water.

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

Interestingly, even though they live in water, Matamata turtle are not very good at swimming. To move places, Matamata turtle does so by walking on the bottom of the water.

When looking for food, what Matamata turtle does is stay still at the bottom of the water while holding the tip of the nose against the surface of the water so that it can breathe.

Matamata turtle itself has such poor eyesight that it requires another technique to detect its prey According to one theory, Matamata turtle uses the membranes on the side of its neck to detect vibrations in the water and, in turn, help it find potential prey.

Another theory states that the tassel-like protrusions all over the skin are also sensitive to vibrations and other stimuli.

As soon as a water animal such as a small fish passes near it, suddenly its Matamata turtle's will turn near its potential prey and open its mouth so that the water and small fish will be sucked into the mouth of Matamata turtle.

Matamata Turtle Videos

The process of extracting the prey itself is very fast because it only takes about 1/5 second. The next thing Matamata turtle needs to do is close its mouth to swallow the feed fish while slowly removing the water from its oral cavity.

Hatching From Rotten Plant Remnants

The breeding and laying season for Matamata turtle's lasts from October to December. Male and female Matamata turtle's have a difference when viewed from the outside, where the male has a thicker and longer tail than the female.

When luring a female, the male's Matamata turtle will spread his legs and poke his head while opening his mouth towards the female.

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If the female likes him, then both of them will get married. Matamata turtle of the mated female will then release their eggs where Matamata turtle's favorite habitat for laying eggs is a pile of rotting plant debris. The number of eggs released by Matamata turtle can reach 28 with a diameter of about 3.5 cm. 

Matamata Turtle, South America's Strange Faced Turtle

After about 200 days, the eggs hatch into baby Matamata turtle's that look like adult Matamata turtle's, but are paler in color. The newly hatched pups have to live independently and find food on their own to survive.

If they can continue to live without significant interference, the pups will enter the phase of sexual maturity at the age of 5 years. Matamata turtle is known to have reached a maximum age of 15 years and a maximum body length of 45 centimeters. By: Ochie

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