Escudo de la República de Colombia Escudo de la República de Colombia
Panel de Accesibilidad

✎ Andrés Rodriguez

✎ Andrés Rodriguez

✎ Diego Aguilera

Mata Mata
Chelus fimbriataAmazon region

  • Generalities
  • Morpho-functionality
  • Lifecycle
  • Distribution

RECORRIDO VIRTUAL POR LA BIODIVERSIDAD DE COLOMBIA
Museo de Historia Natural
Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Mata Mata
Chelus fimbriata

It has unique characteristics among the turtles of the world, its carapace is brown in color and is tuberculate; the neck is long with numerous skin protrusions, with two projections in the form of whiskers in chin. The head is broad, triangular and flattened dorsoventrally, with a tubular nasal extension, the eyes are narrow and the mouth is wide, totally specialized for feeding on live fish and aquatic arthropods that are introduced into the mouth by means of a quick lateral blow of the neck and an expansion of the hyoid apparatus in the neck, a bone located in the neck under the chin.

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the Wild

Critically Endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near Threatened

Least Concern

Not Evaluated

Data Deficient

Morpho-functionality

Beak

The mouth is wide with a sharp beak and strong bite, totally specialized for feeding by hunting live animals.

Chin

It has on its chin two projections in the form of whiskers that help it when hunting.

Camouflage

The shape of its shell and its color helps to camouflage from its prey.

Lifecycle

Reproduction seems to be synchronized with the cycle of the rivers; spawning and incubation take place during the dry season usually between October and December and the eggs hatch in the early swelling season of the river. In a nest the female can lay about 28 eggs. Juveniles have reddish coloration both on the head and on the carapace. These animals can live up to 30 years.

Mata Mata

Distribution

It has a wide distribution in the Colombian territory; it has been registered in the departments of Arauca, Amazonas, Caquetá, Casanare, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, Putumayo, Vaupés and Vichada. They inhabit freshwater sources, preferring slow rivers, lagoons and swamps, and remain in shallow waters where it is easier for them to reach the surface to breathe.

Distribution area