Reptile Identification Contest #5: Answer Revealed!
A big thanks to all those who took part in yesterday's fifth Reptile Identification Contest and another congratulations to our winner @kingmotan for the successful identification! This was probably the most difficult identification contest so far and everyone did a fantastic job with their identifications!
So, were YOU able to identify the mystery reptile?
The answer is...Chelus fimbriata, the Mata mata!
The mata mata is a bizarre looking aquatic turtle native to South America (particularly the Amazon and Orinoco basins). They prefer shallow slow-moving or stagnant pools where they can easily reach the surface with their snout to breath, and seem to thrive in warm, acidic waters with a high tannin content. These turtles are popular in the pet trade because they are not very active animals, and require less space than most active turtle species. They also have such a unique appearance that they make really interesting display animals (people love their goofy smiles!).
Like snapping turtles, mata matas are ambush predators that lie stealthily in wait for prey to come just within reach before attacking. However, their method of grabbing their prey is actually very different; while snapping turtles lash out with their long neck at high speeds to grab their prey, the mata mata engages in suction feeding. It opens its huge mouth as much as possible very quickly to create a low pressure vacuum that sucks prey in! The video below shows the process in slow motion, but they can take prey whole in the blink of an eye!
Their unusual shape and dull colors make the turtles masters of camouflage. Their shell is oblong with deep notches and ridges that appear similar to the bark of underwater trees and logs. Even their wide heads and necks bear flaps of skin that break up their outline and make them hard to distinguish from the leaf litter.
Again, thank you to everyone who participated in the contest (and congrats once more to our winner)! We had a lot of fantastic guesses for a very difficult species! If you missed this contest or wish to participate in future contests to earn valuable sbd (or just learn a little more about identifying cool reptiles and amphibians) give me a follow; I'll be trying to post contests more frequently as long as interest remains high!
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Congrats @kingmotan. Wow, you must know your turtles. I would have never guess. lol. Not in a million years. Good job.
Thnx. Appreciate you.
Indeed a very unusual looking turtle. I have never seen it before - and I have been to Brasil before. Not to the orinoco or Amazon region, admittedly. :)
Great idea, this contest post!
Ah I wish I would have caught this post yesterday! I totally knew what this turtle was :)
Happy Sunday!
Haha I knew this would either be super easy or incredibly hard based on whether or not users had seen it before. If it's one you've seen, I think it's easy to get, but really obscure for someone who doesn't really know turtles!
These are beautiful, well all turtles are, but I love their little flat shells and faces :)
Great post, really nice pics ! you got my follow :)
This is an awesome and rare species--Planet Earth worthy if you ask me. Great choice and congrats to @kingmotan for the win!
Woah, this is really interesting stuff. Never knew something like this existed, so cool!
Thanks for enlightening us! Also
I love the MATA MATA! Great choice!
Got to say long neck turtle.
I did encounter two turtles this week end. I think they are from the nearby lake . I did my best to put them to safety. They roam right on the road. Got to do my due diligence to get them off harm way.
May be you can tell me what kind of turtle they are.
The big one wanted to bite me while I was helping him to move away.
The baby one was roaming on the street, so I brought him back to the lake.
wow
It is a pity, that did not win. I'll try next time=)))
I'll be trying to hold one at least every other week (every week when I can)!
Cool! I'm very glad!!