Argentine snake-necked turtle

Last updated

Argentine snake-necked turtle
Hydromedusa tectifera.jpg
Hydromedusa tectifera
in an aquarium in Japan
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Hydromedusa
Species:
H. tectifera
Binomial name
Hydromedusa tectifera
Cope, 1869
Synonyms [1]
  • Hydromedusa tectifera
    Cope, 1870
  • Hydromedusa platanensis
    Gray, 1873
  • Hydromedusa wagleri
    Günther, 1884
  • Hydromedusa tectifara [sic]
    Nutaphand, 1979(ex errore)

The Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera), [2] also known commonly as the South American snake-necked turtle [2] is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is known for the long neck to which its common names refer. Despite appearances, the Argentine snake-necked turtle is probably more closely related to the mata mata (Chelus fimbriatus) than to the Australian snake-necked turtles in the genus Chelodina . [3] H. tectifera is found in northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. [4] Not much is known about it, as it has not been extensively researched. [5] It is a popular pet in the exotic pet trade.

Contents

Anatomy and morphology

An Argentine snake-necked turtle caught by mistake on a fishing hook in Brazil. Hydromedusa tectifera from Brazil2.jpg
An Argentine snake-necked turtle caught by mistake on a fishing hook in Brazil.
H. tectifera is in the middle left. To the right of it, face to face, is the mata mata (Chelus fimbriatus). Haeckel Chelonia.jpg
H. tectifera is in the middle left. To the right of it, face to face, is the mata mata (Chelus fimbriatus).

H. tectifera can reach up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) in straight carapace length. Its carapace is strongly keeled, and it can also be distinguished by black and yellowish markings along its head and neck. Generally, the females are larger than the males which often have larger tails. [3] [6]

Natural history

The Argentine snake-necked turtle lives in slow-moving ponds, rivers, streams, and marshes, preferably with aquatic vegetation. In coastal areas, it will enter brackish water, and it may hibernate in colder areas of its distribution. It is carnivorous and eats snails, aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. It attacks its prey with a combination of matamata-like vacuum suction and the stabbing neck motions of other snake-necked turtles. [3] 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 34 mm × 22 mm (1.34 in × 0.87 in), white, and brittle-shelled. Hatchlings have a straight carapace length of about 34 mm (1.3 in), and have a carapace which is more wrinkled than that of an adult. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelidae</span> Family of turtles

Chelidae is one of three living families of the turtle suborder Pleurodira, and are commonly called Austro-South American side-neck turtles. The family is distributed in Australia, New Guinea, parts of Indonesia, and throughout most of South America. It is a large family of turtles with a significant fossil history dating back to the Cretaceous. The family is entirely Gondwanan in origin, with no members found outside Gondwana, either in the present day or as a fossil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common snapping turtle</span> Large freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae

The common snapping turtle is a species of large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida. The three species of Chelydra and the larger alligator snapping turtles are the only extant chelydrids, a family now restricted to the Americas. The common snapping turtle, as its name implies, is the most widespread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mata mata</span> Species of freshwater turtle

The mata mata, mata-mata, or matamata is a freshwater turtle species found in South America, primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is one of two extant species in the genus Chelus, the other being Chelus orinocensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alligator snapping turtle</span> Large freshwater turtle from the Eastern United States

The alligator snapping turtle is a large species of turtle in the family Chelydridae. The species is native to freshwater habitats in the United States. M. temminckii is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles in the world. It is the largest freshwater species of turtle in North America. It is often associated with, but not closely related to, the common snapping turtle, which is in the genus Chelydra. The specific epithet temminckii is in honor of Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African helmeted turtle</span> Species of turtle

The African helmeted turtle, also known commonly as the marsh terrapin, the crocodile turtle, or in the pet trade as the African side-necked turtle, is a species of omnivorous side-necked terrapin in the family Pelomedusidae. The species naturally occurs in fresh and stagnant water bodies throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and in southern Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cane turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Cochin forest cane turtle, also known as Kavalai forest turtle, forest cane turtle or simply cane turtle, is a rare turtle from the Western Ghats of India. Described in 1912, its type locality is given as "Near Kavalai in the Cochin State Forests, inhabiting dense forest, at an elevation of about 1500 feet above sea level". Only two specimens were found at that time, and no scientist saw this turtle for the next 70 years. It was rediscovered in 1982, and since then a number of specimens have been found and some studies have been conducted about its phylogeny and ecology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian roofed turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Indian roofed turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It can be distinguished by the distinct "roof" at the topmost part of the shell. It is found in the major rivers of South Asia. It is a common pet in the Indian Subcontinent.

<i>Staurotypus</i> Genus of turtles

Staurotypus is a genus of aquatic turtles, commonly known as giant musk turtles, Mexican musk turtles, or three-keeled musk turtles, in the family Kinosternidae. The genus contains two recognized species, which are endemic to Mexico and Central America. Both species are sold and bred as pets.

<i>Stupendemys</i> Extinct genus of turtles

Stupendemys is an extinct genus of freshwater side-necked turtle, belonging to the family Podocnemididae. It is the largest freshwater turtle known to have existed, with a carapace over 2 meters long. Its fossils have been found in northern South America, in rocks dating from the Middle Miocene to the very start of the Pliocene, about 13 to 5 million years ago. Male specimens are known to have possessed bony horns growing from the front edges of the shell and the discovery of the fossil of a young adult shows that the carapace of these turtles flattens with age. A fossil skull described in 2021 indicates that Stupendemys was a generalist feeder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Razor-backed musk turtle</span> Species of turtle

The razor-backed musk turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to the southern United States. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narrow-bridged musk turtle</span> Species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae

The narrow-bridged musk turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is found in Central America and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood turtle</span> Species of turtle

The wood turtle is a species of turtle endemic to North America. It is in the genus Glyptemys, a genus which contains only one other species of turtle: the bog turtle. The wood turtle reaches a straight carapace length of 14 to 20 centimeters, its defining characteristic being the pyramidal shape of the scutes on its upper shell. Morphologically, it is similar to the bog turtle, spotted turtle, and Blanding's turtle. The wood turtle exists in a broad geographic range extending from Nova Scotia in the north to Minnesota in the west and Virginia in the south. In the past, it was forced south by encroaching glaciers: skeletal remains have been found as far south as Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roti Island snake-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle, also commonly known as McCord's snakeneck turtle, is a critically endangered turtle species. It is named after Rote Island in Indonesia where it was first discovered. Some individuals were later discovered in East Timor, and are considered a distinct subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian snake-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Brazilian snake-necked turtle, locally known as cágado da serra, and also commonly known as Maximilian's snake-necked turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to southeastern Brazil. It is one of the smallest Brazilian freshwater turtles reaching a maximum straight carapace length of 20 cm (7.9 in). The species prefers streams with sandy and rocky bottoms and clear water in forests above 600 m (2,000 ft) elevation.

<i>Hydromedusa</i> Genus of turtles

Hydromedusa is a turtle genus in the family Chelidae, commonly known as the South American snake-necked turtles. They are quite closely related to the South American side-necked swamp turtles (Acanthochelys) and the snake-necked turtles of the Australian-Melanesian region (Chelodina), but less closely to the spine-necked river turtles of South America (Podocnemididae) which belong to a more modern lineage of Pleurodira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle</span> Species of turtle

Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twist-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The twist-necked turtle, also known as the flat-headed turtle, is distributed widely across northern South America. Twist-necked turtles have extremely flat shells that help them hide from predators under rocks and debris. When threatened, this turtle withdraws by twisting its head into its shell. P. platycephala is the only species of the genus Platemys and occurs in northern and central South America. Platemys platycephala means "flat turtle, flat-head" and accurately describes the structure of the head and shell. This species inhabits shallow creek beds and frequently forages on the floor of the Amazon rainforest for insects, amphibians, and mollusks. Camouflage, head and body shape, and advanced sexual anatomy allow this species of turtle to effectively populate much of South America. Mating occurs during rainy months (March–December) and egg deposit occurs during dry months (January–March). Males have been known to behave aggressively towards females during copulation by squirting water from nostrils and biting. A few genomic studies show mosaicism exists among populations of the twist-necked turtle in Suriname. In other words, diploid and triploid levels exist among individuals at this particular location. No threats have been reported for this species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature does not have a current listing. Lack of human consumption due to the species' small size and its wide range explain why scientists are not concerned about this turtle species.

<i>Chelodina canni</i> Species of turtle

Chelodina canni, also known commonly as Cann's snake-necked turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, where it is found in the northern and northeastern parts of the continent. It has a narrow zone of hybridization with its related species the eastern snake-necked turtle, C. longicollis. For many years C. canni was assumed to be the same species as C. novaeguineae from New Guinea. However, in 2002 it was shown that these two species differ both morphologically and genetically, and therefore C. canni was separated and described as a unique species.

<i>Chelodina burrungandjii</i> Species of turtle

Chelodina (Chelydera) burrungandjii, the sandstone snake-necked turtle or Arnhem Land long-necked turtle, is a medium-sized turtle reaching carapace lengths of 316 mm. The species is found in the sandstone plateaus and escarpments and the plunge pools of Arnhem Land of the Northern Territory. The species had been long recognised as valid. However, it had been difficult to research due to the remoteness of its habitat. Efforts to breed this species in captivity had been largely unsuccessful, until National Aquarium Herpetologist Matthew Benedict lead a successful breeding project in 2021. The species occurs in proximity to Chelodina rugosa, to which it is closely related. For the most part the two species are parapatric in distribution. However, they do come together in limited locations such as plunge pools at the base of the escarpments. In these areas there is hybridization between the species.

<i>Phrynops hilarii</i> Species of turtle

Phrynops hilarii, commonly known as Hilaire’s toadhead turtle or Hilaire’s side-necked turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to South America.

References

  1. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 335. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 Zipcodezoo.com Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed March 24, 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 Tortoise.org - Argentine Snake-necked Turtle URL accessed March 24, 2007.
  4. Hydromedusa URL accessed March 28, 2007.
  5. ANIMAL HOUSE SYSTEM FOR FRESHWATER TURTLE URL accessed March 29, 2007.
  6. 1 2 Turtles of the World Archived 2007-12-08 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed March 28, 2007.

Further reading

Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Hydromedusa tectifera at Wikispecies