Argentine Snake-necked Turtle

Fascinating facts about the Argentine Snake-necked Turtle

• A 28 cm straight carapace, about the length of a school ruler, is the maximum straight carapace length reported for this turtle.
• When you map its range, you’ll find it only in the southern cone: northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. This narrow distribution reminds us that many freshwater species are tied to specific river systems, making them vulnerable to habitat changes.
• Its diet reads like a pond’s pantry: snails, aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. By using a rapid vacuum-suction bite, much like the distant relative mata-mata, it can pull prey straight into its mouth, proving that even small turtles can be efficient predators.
• Females grow larger than males, while males have longer tails.
• In spring, the turtle lays white, brittle-shelled eggs measuring 34 mm by 22 mm. Hatchlings emerge at about 34 mm straight carapace length.

At a glance

About the Argentine Snake-necked Turtle

The Argentine snake-necked turtle, Hydromedusa tectifera, is a striking member of the Chelidae family, instantly recognizable by its elongated, flexible neck and a carapace that can reach 28 cm (11 in) in straight length. Its shell is strongly keeled, adorned with contrasting black and yellowish markings that run along the head and neck, giving it a bold, patterned appearance. Females tend to be the larger sex, while males are distinguished by proportionally longer tails. This aquatic reptile inhabits the slow-moving ponds, rivers, streams, and marshes of northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil, favoring waters rich in vegetation and even venturing into brackish coastal zones. In colder parts of its range, it may hibernate, retreating to the bottom of its watery home during the chillier months. A carnivore by nature, H. tectifera employs a dual hunting strategy: it creates a rapid vacuum suction reminiscent of the matamata to draw prey such as snails, aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians into its mouth, then uses its snake-like neck to stab and secure the catch. Nesting occurs in the spring along riverbanks, where the turtle lays white, brittle-shelled eggs measuring 34 mm × 22 mm. Hatchlings emerge with a 34 mm (1.3 in) straight carapace that is noticeably more wrinkled than that of adults, hinting at the dramatic transformation they will undergo as they mature. Despite its captivating biology, the species remains poorly studied, a fact underscored by its popularity in the exotic pet trade, which continues to fuel curiosity about its hidden habits.

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