MATAMATA: Stealth and Craftiness

The most unusual Turtle in the world is Matamata, who lives in the Amazon and Orinoco River Systems of South America. Instead of looking like a typical Turtle, He resembles a pile of debris. When a Fish nibbles on the fibrous parts of Matamata’s head, He springs into action. Expanding his huge mouth, He vacuums up the unfortunate Fish. Expelling the excess water, Matamata then swallows Fish whole.

Having a sedentary but predatory way of life on muddy river bottoms is reflected in his unusual features. Matamata has a snorkel for a nose and leaf-like skin flaps covering his head and neck. His powerful back supports his neck to enable Him to vacuum up his prey. (Matamata belongs to the Side- Necked Turtle Family (Pleurodira).) With his sixth sense, He detects water vibrations. Living at the bottom of dark waterways, Matamata never basks in the sun like other Turtles.

In their various languages, the Amazon Indians refer to Matamata as “I Kill”. Blending with his surroundings, Matamata waits for an unsuspecting Fish to swim by. He remains still as Fish snacks on his head. Suddenly without notice, He will suck the surprised Fish up into his mouth. In other times, Matamata will herd Fish into a pen. A poor swimmer, He walks along the bottom of the muddy water herding the Fish. When He finally corners the Fish, Matamata vacuums Them up.

Matamata uses stealth and cunning to catch Fish. Looking like a pile of leaves, He deceives a Fish into thinking He is a tasty snack. Matamata quietly waits for the unwary Fish to start nibbling. Springing to life, He sucks the stunned Fish into his mouth. Learn how to be crafty from Matamata.

COMMON SNAKE-NECKED TURTLE! LONG-NECKED TURTLE: Being Flexible

Common Snake-Necked Turtle is another “unique” animal from Australia (“Down Under”). Known in Australia as “Long-Necked Turtle”, She can extend her head and neck longer than the length of her shell. Resting at the bottom of a pond, Common Snake-Necked Turtle stretches her long neck and pokes her head above the water’s surface. She searches for a meal this way.

Exclusively a meat eater, Common Snake-Necked Turtle hunts in slow-moving water. During the day, She actively hunts for Frogs and Crayfish (known in Australia as Yabbies). Set unusually far forward, her eyes give Her accurate vision for hunting. Spying a fat Frog, Common Snake-Necked Turtle swims up to Him. While drawing her long neck back into an S-shape, She springs forward. Halting alongside Frog, She opens her mouth wide causing water and Frog to flow inside.

Australians also call Common Snake-Necked Turtle “Stinker”. When caught, She sprays stink fluid as far as three feet (one meter) at her captor. Ever resourceful, Common Snake-Naked Turtle uses her “stink” to defend Herself.

When Common Snake-Necked Turtle decides to move, She will ramble with her Friends over dry land looking for water. When She sights a pond, She heads straight for it. Not fussy, Common Snake-Necked Turtle will live in new man-made ponds.

Common Snake-Necked Turtle teaches flexibility. Not only does She have a flexible body, she also has a flexible life. She rambles from pond to pond. She will even defend Herself by spraying stink (uncommon for a Turtle). Learn how to be flexible with your body and your life from Common Snake-Necked Turtle.

SIDE-NECKED TURTLE FAMILY: Thinking Unconventionally

Present-day Turtles are divided into two groups: Hidden-Necked Turtles (Cryptodira to which most Turtles belong) and Side-Necked Turtles (Pleurodria). Many people are not familiar with Side-Necked Turtles since They live in the Southern Hemisphere. The Side-Necked Turtle Family is further divided into two groups–River Turtles of South America and Australia-New Guinea and Mud Turtles of Africa. Members of Side-Necked Turtle Family are either aquatic or semi-aquatic.

Their name “Side-Necked” comes from the way that these Turtles retract their necks. Side-Necked Turtles fold their heads in sideways so that their nose points either to the left or to the right. Their necks lie sideways in their shells in a groove between their carapaces and plastrons (upper and lower shells). When threatened, Side-Necked Turtles can only protect Themselves by pushing their heads further into their shoulders, thus leaving one side of the neck and head exposed.

Side-Necked Turtles developed their method of neck retraction at the same time as Hidden-Necked Turtles did. The two groups of Turtles came up with different solutions to the problem of protecting Themselves. Hidden-Necked Turtles can withdraw their necks completely into their shells. Although Side-Necked Turtles’ solution is more conservative than the Hidden-Necked Turtles’, They are thriving on their continents. Moreover, Side-Necked Turtles are now known for their distinctiveness.

Side-Necked Turtles teach how to think unconventionally. They show that you can come up with different solutions for the same problem. Just remember to expand your imagination to include the cons of a solution as well as the pros.