Chelus fimbriatus

(Schneider, 1783)

Vernacular names

English : Mata mata
French : Matamata

Classification

Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family : Chelidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

Large turtle, reaching a shell length of 45 cm for a weight of 15 kg. Shell nearly rectangular with three prominent ridges, dark brown in color. Neck with warts and fringes. Underneck pink with black bands, plastron with black markings. Differs from Orinoco matamata by rectangular-shaped carapace, darker skin and darker plastron.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in South America, in the Amazon basin from Guianas to Brazil, west to south Colombia, south to north Bolivia. Lives in slow-moving streams, stagnant pools and marshes.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : Status not assessed but the species is still locally common and not threatened. Over-collection for the international trade can be a problem.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation