are mata mata turtles dangerous

They have the ability, but mata mata turtles are terrible swimmers. However, there are a few species that have a ferocious bite that can lead to serious injury or death. The neck is longer than the vertebra under its carapace (shell) and is fringed with small skin flaps along both sides. Instead, they bend them to the side.. Mata Mata Turtle. Are mata mata turtles good pets? 24. Thanks for your comment. . It can be a strangely peaceful thing to watch a mata mata turtle drift along a school of fish and swallow them one by one. You're in the right place! Mata matas expel the water and swallow their prey whole, because their jaws are physically unable to chew. They escape a lot of notice thanks to their ninja-like maneuvering, and they have such thick skins and shells that they don't make for easy targets. What a cool turtle, I like it! The mata mata turtle is a side-necked turtle. What's the matter with that turtle? It's very fast. Mata mata turtles are quite popular in the exotic pet trade, so you'll have your choice of things like size, color, and gender. Mata mata turtles are incapable of chewing because of the unique shape of their mouths and snouts. Yes and no. Thanks for stopping by my blog to day. Mata mata turtles are native to South America. For more information about taking care of a Mata Mata Turtle Pet, visit: Animal-World, Mata Mata Turtle Facts, Unique, One of a Kind Turtle Click To Tweet, Featured Image: Mata Mata Turtle, “Chelus fimbriatus close” by Stan Shebs – Own work. Yes. Not only does it like to bury its eggs in a closed or excavated location, but it will even make a nest in decaying vegetation around swamps, marshes, and forests! Nothing—it's a mata mata. No one is quite sure where the mata mata turtle gets its name, but there are a few theories floating around: Mata mata turtles are capable of biting, but it's rare. They're the last of their kind. They come in mottled shades of gray, brown, black and dark green that are meant to camouflage them as they hide in the water. How long does the mata mata turtle live? They slow down as they age and lose their mobility. Mata mata turtles have a reproductive cycle that lasts from October to December. When is the mating season for mata mata turtles? When you use my links, I may earn an affiliate commission. You can tell where a mata mata comes from by its shell and coloration. The mata mata turtle is in possession of something called the tapetum lucidum. Looking to be amazed by a crazy turtle? Survival News, Survival Skills, Survival Tips. South America’s Amazon is famous for its incredible and sometimes disturbing creatures. One of the more dangerous types of turtles is the snapping turtle. Schneider, J.G. Turtles of the world, 7th edition: annotated They aren't territorial, and they don't offer parental care to their young, so they don't have any aggressive tendencies about nesting or feeding their babies. But mata mata turtles don't have anything to do with wizards and hobbits. Warm, acidic water is the best type used with a high tannin content that should be maintained all year round. What animal would like to see me cover? They don't actually come from Matamata. Orinoco locals have oval shells and pale necks. 38. In South America, some people refer to unattractive women as "mata matas." 2014. Learn how your comment data is processed. The mata mata turtle hasn't been evaluated by conservation groups, but it's safe to assume that they're doing just fine. When fish approach, the turtle stretches its neck out and opens its mouth wide to create a vacuum. There are species that exist all over the world, and attacks on humans are not uncommon, but they are generally due to people stepping on them or posing some sort of threat. These things are all adaptations to help them live in the water. • 19. While the skin flaps of the mata mata turtle can help them look like dead leaves in the water, camouflage isn't the only reason for their existence. No. Each fore foot has five webbed claws. Female mata mata turtles lay between 12 – 28 eggs at a time. It's derived from the Latin words for “tortoise” (chelys) and “fringed” (fimbriatus). 14. Systematischen Verseichnisse der einzelnen Arten. How to say mata mata turtle? The mata mata turtle originates on the other side of the world in South America's Amazon and Orinoco basins. Oh, how fun! These curious creatures have one of the oddest appearances in the animal kingdom, and that's not even getting into their unique feeding, nesting and camouflaging habits. While they are not known to seek out humans for prey, there have been reports of sea-going individuals getting crushed as they found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. This turtle is not only the largest in the world, but it is also one of the most fearsome. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada she has lived in the United States for more than 20 years now. When a fish swims closeby, the mata mata turtle sticks its head out and opens its large mouth as wide as possible. Now who's hungry? einer Naturgeschichte derselben. xlviii + 364 p. Oppel, M. They live in the leaf litter at the bottom of shallow streams. 25. 5 things to know. I’ll bet you were such a cute little boy, Jon. They're pretty hefty! https://www.survivalkit.com/blog/the-worlds-most-dangerous-turtles 53 Amazing Elephant Gifts (Clothes, Books, Kid Gifts for Elephant Lovers), 30 Tailless Whip Scorpion Facts (Harmlessly Terrifying! The World’s Most Dangerous Turtles. However, ... Mata Mata Turtle. This action creates a low-pressure vacuum that sucks the prey into its mouth! Zoologie Analytique, ou Méthode Naturelle de Classification des Animaux. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I’d love to though. Mata Mata Turtle Life Span. The mata mata also has 3 barbels  on the chin and 4 more filamentous barbels at the upper jaw. This turtle is not only the largest in the world, but it is also one of the most fearsome. The mata mata is strictly an aquatic species but it prefers standing in shallow water where its snout can reach the surface to breathe. They don't hesitate when it comes to killing their prey, but mata mata turtles are very mellow creatures overall. Mata mata turtles can weigh up to 33 pounds. These definitely earn their spot on the weird animal list. – Drew Haines, Previous: 35 Frilled Shark Facts: Snake Fish of the Deep (Chlamydoselachus anguineus), Next: 46 Milkweed Assassin Bug Facts: Brutal Insect Executioners (Zelus longipes). The rest have gone extinct, so only the mata matas are carrying on the family name. However, there have been reports of sightings in rivers and streams in the deep south and Florida. Mata mata turtles are aquatic turtles that live in the rivers and swamps of South America. It isn't known whether mata mata turtles mate for life. You might think that mata mata turtles would carefully tend to their babies after incubating them for the better part of a year, but this isn't the case. It's now known as Chelus fimbriatus. Hi! What kinds of special senses do mata mata turtles have? Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle They have sizeable populations across a wide range of countries, and there's no indication that their numbers are dropping beyond their ability to repopulate. Here, we'll cover everything you ever wanted to know about the strange mata mata turtle. Males have concave plastrons (breastplate) and longer, thicker tails than females. What eats a mata mata turtle? Mata mata turtles don't really have predators. They lack the speed and range of motion that's needed to be truly comfortable as a swimming animal. 33. H.B., and Bour, R.]. They're usually round and brittle, and they measure 3 – 4 centimeters in diameter. Most people don’t think of turtles as being a threat to humans. Their favorite position is submerging themselves with only their snouts sticking out, and they can spend long hours completely motionless as they wait for their unsuspecting prey to cross their path. This is why they prey on small animals; dinner has to be the right size to be swallowed in one motion. It isn't an illegal or uncommon practice. Everywhere Wild is a community for animal lovers. Only on Amazon.com. Müller, Leipzig. Terrifying And Dangerous Turtles and Lizards Mata Mata Turtle. I hope you share this with that special 7-year-old! Even though they can grow quite large (up to 18″), they do not need a lot of space, since they are not very active and do not hunt. Don't expect a lot of interaction from them. Other distinguishing features of the head are that it is covered in tubercles, flaps of skin, and even has a “horn” on its snout! 35. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mata mata turtles spend most of their days in the water; they'll only venture on land when hunting or nesting demands it. I haven’t seen one in ‘person’ yet. How did the mata mata turtle get its name? Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. The general longevity of a mata mata turtle is somewhere. Incidentally, this is one of the few times that you'll find the mata mata turtle emerging from the water. (Eds.). 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