# Mata mata (*Chelus fimbriatus*) The mata mata is a unique turtle that looks like a piece of wood or a leaf! It has a flat, wide shell and a funny face, making it one of the most interesting turtles in the world. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Leaf turtle, Mata mata turtle ![Mata mata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2009_Chelus_fimbriatus.JPG&width=800) Photo: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009_Chelus_fimbriatus.JPG) ## Appearance The Mata mata has an incredibly flat, triangular head with a distinctive snorkel-like snout and a wide, frog-like mouth. Its irregular, bumpy shell and rough, leafy skin flaps provide exceptional camouflage, making it look like a pile of decaying leaves on the riverbed. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Family:** Chelidae - **Genus:** Chelus ## Interesting facts - Its super-flat, leaf-like head makes it perfectly invisible among river debris. - Mata matas smell prey by sensing tiny chemicals in the water. - They never chase food, instead patiently waiting for hours to ambush unlucky fish. - This turtle cannot pull its head completely inside its shell for protection. ## Special abilities - **Leafy Disguise:** Mata mata has rough, leaf-like skin and a bumpy shell that help them camouflage perfectly among riverbed debris. - **Vacuum Attack:** Mata mata can suddenly open its wide mouth, creating a powerful vacuum that sucks in unsuspecting fish and prey instantly. - **Underwater Snorkel:** Mata mata has a tube-like snout that works like a snorkel, letting it breathe air while remaining completely hidden underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-50 cm - **Weight:** 1-5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-30 years - **Speed:** 0.2 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-28 - **Incubation:** 200-300 days - **Maximum Depth:** 2 m ## Diet & Feeding This sneaky turtle waits perfectly still to ambush small fish and amphibians with a quick gulp! - **Primary Foods:** small fish, tadpoles, frogs, crayfish, aquatic insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — Juvenile Mata matas can be prey for caimans. - **Eaten by:** Green Anaconda (*Eunectes murinus*) — Large anacondas may prey on adult Mata matas. - **Hunts:** [Black Neon Tetra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-neon-tetra) (*Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi*) — One of many small fish species hunted by the turtle. - **Hunts:** [Cane Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cane-toad) (*Rhinella marina*) — Mata matas ambush tadpoles of various amphibian species. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch turtles from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mata mata? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mata mata? 30-50 cm ### How much does Mata mata weigh? 1-5 kg ### How long does Mata mata live? 15-30 years ### How fast can Mata mata move? 0.2 km/h ### What does Mata mata eat? This sneaky turtle waits perfectly still to ambush small fish and amphibians with a quick gulp! ### How fast can Mata mata swim? 0.5 km/h ### Where is Mata mata usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Greater Cleveland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greater-cleveland-aquarium-ohio) — Ohio, US · Aquarium ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Mata mata: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mata-mata)