Hydromedusa maximiliani
(Mikan, 1820)
Brazilian Snake-Necked Turtle
This neotropical freshwater turtle Hydromedusa maximiliani is on of the most exiting turtles of South America. It's range is limited to few mountainous streams of the Atlantic rainforest along the Brazilain cost between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. There it has adapted to the cool rivers and streams in the Atlantic rainforest in eleveations usually above 600m (2000ft). The redish to bronish coloration is almost invisible on the bottom of the rivers usually consisting of sand and small rocks. If not active the turtle will hide underneath logs in slow floating parts of the river or it will hide in washed out bank slopes. It can be found aktive all day, but primarily after rain and in the late afternoon. Search for food will be mainly done on dead leaf litter that accumulated typically in slow flowing parts of the rivers like the inside of elbows. After rain falls the turtle often catches food from the water surface that was washed from the above trees into the water (neustophagy).
The turtle usually does not swim, but slowly moves over the bottom of the rivers. During heavy rainfalls it may leave the water in order to escape the fast rising streams of the mountainous forest.
(Mikan, 1820)
Brazilian Snake-Necked Turtle
This neotropical freshwater turtle Hydromedusa maximiliani is on of the most exiting turtles of South America. It's range is limited to few mountainous streams of the Atlantic rainforest along the Brazilain cost between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. There it has adapted to the cool rivers and streams in the Atlantic rainforest in eleveations usually above 600m (2000ft). The redish to bronish coloration is almost invisible on the bottom of the rivers usually consisting of sand and small rocks. If not active the turtle will hide underneath logs in slow floating parts of the river or it will hide in washed out bank slopes. It can be found aktive all day, but primarily after rain and in the late afternoon. Search for food will be mainly done on dead leaf litter that accumulated typically in slow flowing parts of the rivers like the inside of elbows. After rain falls the turtle often catches food from the water surface that was washed from the above trees into the water (neustophagy).
The turtle usually does not swim, but slowly moves over the bottom of the rivers. During heavy rainfalls it may leave the water in order to escape the fast rising streams of the mountainous forest.
Hydromedusa maximiliani showing its typical mouth flaps
Distribution area in the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil
Plastron view of adult male
Semiadult female
Semiadult female whith dark blocks on the Plastron
Same animal that still shows serated Carapax rim
Escaping the water after heavy rainfalls
The shallow creeks with sandy bottom and small stones of the neotropical rainforest in southeastern Brazil is the typical habitat of Hydromedusa maximiliani