The Matamata Turtle

The Matamata is a turtle that is most recognisable by its long snout it uses as a snorkle. Today, it camouflages into shallow river banks to ambush its prey, extending its neck and opening its mouth wide so it suctions the fish whole into its mouth. However, lowering water levels across the Amazon river due to climate change has begun to destroy much of its habitat. In the future, the matamata will take on a different color palate to be able to blend in with its dryer surroundings better and lose its defining snout. Its eggs, like many turtles, have their sex determined by temperature and will have the corresponding range shift to maintain a good balance of male and female turtles with a higher average temperature.