Chelus orinocensis

Chelus orinocensis is a freshwater turtle found in South America, primarily in the Orinoco basin. It was split off from Chelus fimbriata in 2020.

Chelus orinocensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Chelus
Species:
C. orinocensis
Binomial name
Chelus orinocensis
Vargas-Ramírez, et al. 2020[1]

Discovery via genomic analysis

A genomic analysis of the mata mata was reported in 2020, which showed a deep split between the populations in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The authors proposed that the Orinoco population be assigned to a new species, Chelus orinocensis, with the Amazon population retaining the Chelus fimbriatus species designation.[1]

Prior to its description as a separate species, observations of distinctive morphological differences had already been noted among specimens in the populations of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.[2]

References

  1. Vargas-Ramírez, M.; Caballero, S.; Morales-Betancourt, M.A.; Lasso, C.A.; Amaya, L.; Gregorio Martínez, J.; das Neves Silva Viana, M.; Vogt, R.C.; Pires Farias, I.; Hrbek, T.; Campbell, P.D.; Fritz, U. (2020). "Genomic analyses reveal two species of the matamata (Testudines: Chelidae: Chelus spp.) and clarify their phylogeography". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 148: 106823. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106823. PMID 32278863.
  2. Sanchez-Vilaga, Marcelo R.; Prichard, Peter C. H.; Paolillo, Alfredo; Linares, Omar J. (January 1995). "Geographic variation in the matamata turtle, Chelus fimbriatus, with observations on its shell morphology and morphometry" (PDF). Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 1: 292–300.



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