Common name : Smiling turtle
Scientific name : Chelus fimbriata
Family : Chelidae
Native to : South America
Interesting fact : They catch fish by opening their mouths wide and creating a suction.
Conservation status : Least Concern
The mata mata turtle has a very unique appearance suited to blend in with the leaf litter on the bottom of streams. The triangular head with a snout and long neck are flattened and covered in warts. The shell has high ridges. Found in slow-moving streams and marshes, these sluggish turtles feed on fish, frogs and other freshwater animals.
