The matamatas (Chelus fimbriata and the recently described Chelus orinocensis) are the largest species in the family Chelidae, easily identified by their distinct morphological characteristics. The matamatas have a wide distribution in South America, occurring in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as Trinidad and Tobago. However, there are many gaps in the knowledge of its distribution. The objective of this study was to present new records of occurrence for the C. fimbriata species complex and describe the area of distribution. We compiled data from published papers, databases in museums and other scientific collections, and research institutes and conservation organizations. From these data we mapped the species distribution, considering 3 types of river drainages based on water color in the Amazon Basin. We added 182 new records in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, demonstrating that the C. fimbriata species complex has a wide distribution, totaling 6,907,551 km2 across all 3 river types. Most records were concentrated in areas lower than 200 m above sea level.
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8 June 2021
Distribution of Chelus fimbriata and Chelus orinocensis (Testudines: Chelidae)
Fábio A.G. Cunha,
Camila K. Fagundes,
Elizângela S. Brito,
Richard C. Vogt,
Fábio Maffei,
Juarez Pezzuti,
Daniely Félix-Silva,
Fernando J.M. Rojas-Runjaic,
Carlos A. Lasso,
Monica A. Morales-Betancourt,
Vinicius Tadeu De Carvalho,
João Valsecchi Do Amaral,
Rafael A.M. Balestra,
Mariel Acácio,
Adriana Malvasio,
Ana Paula G. Lustosa
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Chelonian Conservation and Biology
Vol. 20 • No. 1
June 2021
Vol. 20 • No. 1
June 2021
Amazon Basin
Chelidae
matamata
natural history
Orinoco
river types
species complex
