Mata Mata

Chelus fimbriata

A camouflaged Amazon turtle with a flat head and snorkel nose that vacuums up fish by suddenly opening its mouth.

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About the Mata Mata

Mata matas live in slow-moving, shallow water with soft, muddy bottoms throughout the Amazon in northern South America, including Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. Their rough, knobby shell and the fringes and bumps on the neck help them blend in. A long, tube-shaped snout works like a snorkel, so only the tip has to reach the surface for the turtle to breathe.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Chelus fimbriata^[1][2]
Size: Shell up to nearly 45 cm (about 1.5 feet) long.^[1]
Weight: Up to about 17.2 kg (38 pounds).^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Small fish and invertebrates.^[1]
Habitat: Slow-moving, shallow water with soft, muddy bottoms.^[1]
Where it lives: The Amazon in northern South America, and Trinidad.^[1]
Group life: Mostly active at night.^[1]
Babies: 12 to 28 eggs, which take about 200 days to hatch.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2023).^[2]

Fun facts

A mata mata's long snout works like a snorkel.^[1]
Mata matas catch food by suddenly opening their mouths so water and prey rush in.^[1]
Mata mata eggs take about 200 days to hatch.^[1]

Vocabulary

camouflage: Colors or patterns that help an animal blend in with its surroundings.
snorkel: A tube used to breathe air while staying underwater.
suction feeding: Catching food by quickly pulling in water so prey gets swept into the mouth.
carnivore: An animal that eats mostly meat.
ambush: To hide and wait, then attack by surprise.

See it in person

Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · Reptile JunctionSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Matamata turtle.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/matamata-turtle (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Chelus fimbriata (Amazon Matamata).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/171924/1337442 (accessed 2026-10-02)