Mata mata turtle
Ambush predator in warm blackwater.
This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.
- Mata mata turtle should be kept without other species.
- Mata mata turtle should be kept without other species.
- Mata mata turtle should be kept without other species.
Care and water
Behavior
Ambush predator in warm blackwater.
Food
Live fish.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Male or female
Males have a concave plastron (belly shell) and a longer, thicker tail; females have a flatter plastron and a shorter tail.
Health
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Breeding
Rarely bred in captivity ·
Rare in captivity.
Buy a pair of adults; they are rare.
A large soft acidic tank with plants.
Rare spawns; conditions not well known.
12-28 eggs per clutch; incubation about 200 days (captive eggs at 28-29 °C).
Hatchlings eat small fish.
- Hard water
- Strong flow
- Overfeeding
Where it lives in the wild
The story of the mata mata turtle
A fully aquatic, well-camouflaged ambush predator, often covered in algae, that sucks in fish by suddenly opening its throat.
Schneider described the mata mata in 1783, originally in another genus. In 2020 scientists separated the Orinoco and Rio Negro populations as a second species, Chelus orinocensis. Its strange flattened head and leaf-like appearance have long fascinated naturalists and keepers.
First described by Johann G. Schneider in 1783.
- It feeds by suddenly opening its huge mouth, sucking fish in with the rush of water.
- Its long snout works like a snorkel, letting it breathe while lying hidden on the bottom.
- Skin flaps on its head and neck help it sense movement and break up its outline.
Sources
9 facts checked with sources
- Scientific name
Reptile (fully aquatic side-necked turtle), not a fish. Authority (Schneider, 1783); also spelled Chelus fimbriatus. Since Vargas-Ramírez et al. (2020), Orinoco and Rio Negro animals are a separate species, Chelus orinocensis; the legacy 'Orinoco' variant is that species, not a locality form of C. fimbriata. Many older sources (ADW, UWI Trinidad) predate the split.
The Reptile Database: Chelus fimbriata - Familycorrected
New value (legacy had none).
The Reptile Database: Chelus fimbriata - Size
Carapace length (CL); 45 cm is the maximum, adults 31-45 cm. Pre-2020 sources may include C. orinocensis.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus · University of the West Indies, Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago: Chelus fimbriatus - Lifespancorrected
The only lifespan found is ADW (a university-hosted species account): up to 15 years in captivity. The legacy '40+ years' was not supported by any source checked; treat as unverified.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus - Swimming level
Sits on the bottom in shallow water and rarely swims; does not bask.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus · University of the West Indies, Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago: Chelus fimbriatus - Where it livescorrected
New value (legacy had none). Also Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru and Suriname (Reptile Database); introduced in Florida. Lives in shallow, slow, turbid water and blackwater streams (ADW).
The Reptile Database: Chelus fimbriata - Male or femaleAnimal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus
- Eggs and youngAnimal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus · University of the West Indies, Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago: Chelus fimbriatus
- Storycorrected
Fully aquatic and suction feeding are verified. The 'pile of dead leaves' comparison was not found in the sources checked (they describe algae cover and resembling a rock), so it was reworded.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Chelus fimbriatus