Argentine Snake-necked Turtle

Taxobox | name = Argentine Snake-necked Turtle [http://www.zipcodezoo.com/animals/h/hydromedusa_tectifera.asp Zipcodezoo.com] URL accessed March 24, 2007.]

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image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Testudines
familia = Chelidae
genus = Hydromedusa
species = "H. tectifera"
binomial = "Hydromedusa tectifera"
binomial_authority = Cope, 1869

The Argentine Snake-necked Turtle, also known as the South American Snake-necked Turtle ("Hydromedusa tectifera") is a turtle that is known for its long neck that gave it its name. Despite appearances, the Argentine Snake-necked Turtle is actually more related to the Mata mata ("Chelus fimbriatus") than to the Australian Snake-necked Turtles in the genus "Chelodina". It is found in northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. [ [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/turtcroclist/chklst14.htm Hydromedusa] URL accessed March 28, 2007.] Not much is known about them, as they have not been extensively researched. [ [http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:CE8PztWyZK4J:calvados.c3sl.ufpr.br/ojs2/index.php/veterinary/article/viewPDFInterstitial/3943/3183+hydromedusa+tectifera&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us ANIMAL HOUSE SYSTEM FOR FRESHWATER TURTLE] URL accessed March 29, 2007.] They are a popular pet in the exotic pet trade.

Anatomy and morphology

The turtle can reach up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) in length. Its carapace is strongly keeled, and can also be distinguished by black and yellowish markings along its head and neck. Generally, the females are larger than the males, who often have larger tails. [http://www.tortoise.org/archives/hydromed.html Tortoise.org - Argentine Snake-necked Turtle] URL accessed March 24, 2007.] [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/turtles.php?menuentry=soorten&id=167 Turtles of the World] URL accessed March 28, 2007.]

Natural history

Argentine Snake-necked Turtles live in slow-moving ponds, rivers, streams, and marshes, preferably with aquatic vegetation. In coastal areas, they will enter brackish water, and they may hibernate in colder areas of their distribution. The turtles are carnivorous and eat snails, aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. It attacks its prey with a combination of the Matamata's vacuum suction and the stabbing neck motions of other snake-necked turtles. Courtship and mating has not been extensively observed in this species, although it is known that nesting occurs in the spring at the riverbanks. The eggs are 34x22 mm long, white, and brittle-shelled. Hatchlings are about 34 mm long, and have more wrinkled carapaces than adults.

References