New and unusual field records of Chelus spp. in Venezuela (Testudines: Chelidae)
Registros nuevos e inusuales de Chelus spp. en Venezuela (Testudines: Chelidae)
Abstract
The genus Chelus, matamata turtles, is native to northern South America, being widely distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. It reaches the largest adult body size among the extant Chelidae, and with straightline carapace length (SCL) ranging from 31.1-40.4 cm (Pritchard & Trebbau 1984). However, larger individuals do exist (i.e., > 50 cm SCL Barrio-Amorós & Manrique 2006). Matamatas are very charismatic and easy to recognize by their unique morphological appearance (i.e., extremely flat and triangular head, long and thick neck, wide mouth, long pointy snout, and a carapace with three dorsal keels). They are classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN (2021), yet their natural history is largely unknown despite the great interest shown by the herpetological community. Likewise, the distribution range of Chelus species remains only partially verified, and the taxonomic revision of the genus suggesting the recognition of two extant species leaves (see below) the geographic coverage of each of them undocumented. This lack of comprehensive distribution data hampers efforts to accurately understand the biogeography and ecological niches of each species, requiring further research to delineate their ranges more precisely.
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References
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Barrio-Amorós, C. & R. Manrique. 2006. Record de taille por une Matamata (Chelus fimbriata) au Venezuela. Manouria 9(32): 23–26.
Cadena, E., A. Link, A.Vanegas, C. Avellaneda-Otero, C. Perdomo, D. Urueña-Carrillo, R. Sánchez, R. Vanegas, T. Scheyer & J. Carrillo-Briceño. 2023. New insights into the fossil record of the turtle genus Chelus Duméril, 1806 including new specimens with information on cervicals and limb bones. Comptes Rendus Palevol 22(34): 689–709.
Cann, J. & J. M. Legler. 1994. The Mary River Tortoise: A new genus and species of short-necked Chelid from Queensland, Australia (Testudines: Pleurodira). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(2): 81–96.
Crampton, W. G., N. R. Lovejoy & J. C. Waddell. 2003. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of the electric fish genus Gymnotus (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes) using cytochrome b and 16S rRNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 26(3): 329–344.
Cunha, F., C. Fagundes, E. Brito et al. 2021. Distribution of Chelus fimbriata and Chelus orinocensis (Testudines: Chelidae). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 20(1): 109–115.
Emmons, L. H. & F. Feer. 1999. Neotropical rainforest mammals, a field guide. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 396 pp., 29 pls.
Escalona, T. 2003. Maternal effects on reproductive success in a river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) in southern Venezuela. St Louis, Missouri: University of Missouri at St Louis, 84 pp. [PhD thesis].
Escalona, T., N. Valenzuela & D. C. Adams. 2009a. Nesting ecology in the freshwater turtle Podocnemis unifilis: spatio temporal patterns and inferred explanations. Functional Ecology 23(4): 826–835.
Escalona, T., T. Engstrom, O. Hernández, B. Bock, R. Vogt & N. Valenzuela. 2009b. Population genetics of the endangered South American freshwater turtle, Podocnemis unifilis, inferred from microsatellite DNA data. Conservation Genetics 10: 1683–1696.
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González, N., G. Echevarría, F. Daza & F. Mass. 2012. Illustrated list of additions to the ichthyofauna of the Caura River, Venezuela. CheckList 8: 43–52.
Medem, F. 1960. Datos zoo-geográficos y ecológicos sobre los Crocodylia y Testudinata de los ríos Amazonas, Putumayo y Caquetá. Caldasia 8 (38): 341–351.
Morales-Betancourt, M., C. Lasso, S. Bernal-Sierra, A. Sepúlveda-Seguro, K. Parra-Henao, M. Gómez-Rincón, V. Páez, B. Castañeda & B. Marín. 2020. Historia natural de las tortugas acuáticas de la Reserva Natural Bojonawi (Escudo Guayanés), Orinoquia, Vichada, Colombia. pp. 431–45. In: Lasso C. A.,F. Trujillo, M. A. Morales-Betancourt (eds.). VIII. Biodiversidad de la Reserva Natural Bojonawi, Vichada, Colombia: río Orinoco y planicie de inundación. Serie Editorial Fauna Silvestre Neotropical. Bogotá, D. C.: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt.
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Pritchard, P. 2008. Chelus fimbriatus (Schneider, 1783) – Matamata turtle. Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 020.1-020.10 Pritchard, P. & P. Trebbau. 1984. The turtles of Venezuela. Ithaca, NY: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 403 pp.
Rodriguez-Olarte, D., J. I. Mojica & D. C. Taphorn. 2011. Northern South America: Magdalena and Maracaibo Basins. January 2011. pp. 243-257. In: Albert S. J. & R. E. Reis (eds.): Historical biogeography of Neotropical freshwater fishes. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 369 pp.
Rojas-Runjaic, F., A. Ferrer & C. Señaris. 2011. Tortugas continentales de la Orinoquía venezolana: situación actual e iniciativas para su conservación y uso sustentable. pp. 174–207. In: Lasso C. A., B. A. Rial, C. L. Matallana, W. Ramírez, J. C. Señaris, A. Díaz-Pulido, G. Corzo & A. Machado-Allison (eds.). Biodiversidad de la cuenca del Orinoco. II. Áreas prioritarias para la conservación y uso sostenible. Bogotá, D. C.: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Ministerio del Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, WWF Colombia, Fundación Omacha, Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto de Estudios de la Orinoquia (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), 304 pp.
Rosales, J., M. Bevilacqua, W. Díaz, R. Pérez, D. Rivas & S. Caura. 2003. Riparian vegetation communities of the Caura River Basin, Bolívar State, Venezuela. In: Chernoff B., A. Machado-Allison, K. Riseng & J. R. Montambault (eds.). A biological assessment of the aquatic ecosystems of the Caura River Basin, Bolívar State, Venezuela. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 28. Washington, D. C.: Conservation International, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Department of Conservation Biology, 284 pp.
Rosales, J. & O. Huber (eds.). 1996. Ecología de la cuenca del rio Caura, Venezuela, I. Caracterización general. Scientia Guianae 6: 1–152.
Sánchez-Villagra M., P. Pritchard, A. Paolillo & O. Linares. 1995. Geographic variation in the matamata turtle, Chelus fimbriatus, with observations on its morphology and morphometry. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(4): 293– 300.
Spinks, P., A. Georges & H. B. Shaffer. 2015. Phylogenetic uncertainty and taxonomic re-revisions: an example from the Australian short-necked turtles (Testudines: Chelidae). Copeia 2015: 536–540
Thomaz, A. T., L. R. Malabarba & L. L. Knowles. 2017. Genomic signatures of paleogeographic history in the Neotropical seasonal forest and savanna: the diversification of the annual killifish genus Cynopoecilus. Molecular Ecology 26(10): 2716–2732.
TTWG-Turtle Taxonomy Working Group [Rhodin A., J. Iverson, R. Bour, U. Fritz, A. Georges, B. Shaffer & P. van Dijk]. 2021. Turtles of the World: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status (9th ed.). In: Rhodin A., J. Iverson, P. van Dijk, C. Stanford, E. Goode, K. Buhlmann & R. Mittermeier (eds.): Conservation biology of freshwater turtles and tortoises: A compilation project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 8:1–472.
Vargas-Ramírez, M., S. Caballero, M. Morales-Betancourt, C. Lasso, L. Amaya, J. Martínez, M. Silva Viana, R. Vogt, I. Farias, T. Hrbek, P. Campbell & U. Fritz. 2020. Genomic analyses reveal two species of the matamata (Testudines: Chelidae: Chelus spp.) and clarify their phylogeography. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 148: 106823.
Willis, S. C., M. Nunes, C. G. Montaña. I. P. Farias, G. Ortí & N. R. Lovejoy. 2010. The Casiquiare River acts as a corridor between the Amazonas and Orinoco river basins: Biogeographic analysis of the genus Cichla. Molecular Ecology 19: 1014–1030.
Willis, S. C., J. Macrander, I. P. Farias & G. Orti. 2012. Simultaneous delimitation of species and quantification of interspecific hybridization in Amazonian peacock cichlids (genus Cichla) using multilocus data. BMC Evolutionary Biology 12(96): 1–24.
Winemiller, K. O. & S. C. Willis. 2011. The Vaupes Arch and Casiquiare Canal: Barriers and passages. pp. 225–242. In: Albert S. J. &R. E. Reis. (eds.): Historical biogeography of Neotropical freshwater fishes. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 369 pp.
Zachos, F. E. 2016. Species concepts in biology: Historical development, theoretical foundations, and practical relevance. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 215 pp.
Barrio-Amorós, C. & I. Narbaiza. 1999. Chelus fimbriatus (Matamata). Maximum size. Herpetological Review 30: 164– 165.
Barrio-Amorós, C. & R. Manrique. 2006. Record de taille por une Matamata (Chelus fimbriata) au Venezuela. Manouria 9(32): 23–26.
Cadena, E., A. Link, A.Vanegas, C. Avellaneda-Otero, C. Perdomo, D. Urueña-Carrillo, R. Sánchez, R. Vanegas, T. Scheyer & J. Carrillo-Briceño. 2023. New insights into the fossil record of the turtle genus Chelus Duméril, 1806 including new specimens with information on cervicals and limb bones. Comptes Rendus Palevol 22(34): 689–709.
Cann, J. & J. M. Legler. 1994. The Mary River Tortoise: A new genus and species of short-necked Chelid from Queensland, Australia (Testudines: Pleurodira). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(2): 81–96.
Crampton, W. G., N. R. Lovejoy & J. C. Waddell. 2003. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of the electric fish genus Gymnotus (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes) using cytochrome b and 16S rRNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 26(3): 329–344.
Cunha, F., C. Fagundes, E. Brito et al. 2021. Distribution of Chelus fimbriata and Chelus orinocensis (Testudines: Chelidae). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 20(1): 109–115.
Emmons, L. H. & F. Feer. 1999. Neotropical rainforest mammals, a field guide. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 396 pp., 29 pls.
Escalona, T. 2003. Maternal effects on reproductive success in a river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) in southern Venezuela. St Louis, Missouri: University of Missouri at St Louis, 84 pp. [PhD thesis].
Escalona, T., N. Valenzuela & D. C. Adams. 2009a. Nesting ecology in the freshwater turtle Podocnemis unifilis: spatio temporal patterns and inferred explanations. Functional Ecology 23(4): 826–835.
Escalona, T., T. Engstrom, O. Hernández, B. Bock, R. Vogt & N. Valenzuela. 2009b. Population genetics of the endangered South American freshwater turtle, Podocnemis unifilis, inferred from microsatellite DNA data. Conservation Genetics 10: 1683–1696.
Ferreira, G., A. Rincón, A. Solórzano & M. Langer. 2016. Review of the fossil matamata turtles: earliest welldated record and hypotheses on the origin of their present geographical distribution. The Science of Nature 103 (28): 1–12.
González, N., G. Echevarría, F. Daza & F. Mass. 2012. Illustrated list of additions to the ichthyofauna of the Caura River, Venezuela. CheckList 8: 43–52.
Medem, F. 1960. Datos zoo-geográficos y ecológicos sobre los Crocodylia y Testudinata de los ríos Amazonas, Putumayo y Caquetá. Caldasia 8 (38): 341–351.
Morales-Betancourt, M., C. Lasso, S. Bernal-Sierra, A. Sepúlveda-Seguro, K. Parra-Henao, M. Gómez-Rincón, V. Páez, B. Castañeda & B. Marín. 2020. Historia natural de las tortugas acuáticas de la Reserva Natural Bojonawi (Escudo Guayanés), Orinoquia, Vichada, Colombia. pp. 431–45. In: Lasso C. A.,F. Trujillo, M. A. Morales-Betancourt (eds.). VIII. Biodiversidad de la Reserva Natural Bojonawi, Vichada, Colombia: río Orinoco y planicie de inundación. Serie Editorial Fauna Silvestre Neotropical. Bogotá, D. C.: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt.
Pearse, D. E., A. A. Arndt, N. Valenzuela, B. A. Miller, V. Cantarelli & J. W. Sites, Jr. 2006. Estimating population structure under nonequilibrium conditions in a conservation context: Continentwide population genetics of the giant Amazon river turtle, Podocnemis expansa (Chelonia; Podocnemididae). Molecular Ecology 15: 985–1006.
Pritchard, P. 2008. Chelus fimbriatus (Schneider, 1783) – Matamata turtle. Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 020.1-020.10 Pritchard, P. & P. Trebbau. 1984. The turtles of Venezuela. Ithaca, NY: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 403 pp.
Rodriguez-Olarte, D., J. I. Mojica & D. C. Taphorn. 2011. Northern South America: Magdalena and Maracaibo Basins. January 2011. pp. 243-257. In: Albert S. J. & R. E. Reis (eds.): Historical biogeography of Neotropical freshwater fishes. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 369 pp.
Rojas-Runjaic, F., A. Ferrer & C. Señaris. 2011. Tortugas continentales de la Orinoquía venezolana: situación actual e iniciativas para su conservación y uso sustentable. pp. 174–207. In: Lasso C. A., B. A. Rial, C. L. Matallana, W. Ramírez, J. C. Señaris, A. Díaz-Pulido, G. Corzo & A. Machado-Allison (eds.). Biodiversidad de la cuenca del Orinoco. II. Áreas prioritarias para la conservación y uso sostenible. Bogotá, D. C.: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Ministerio del Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, WWF Colombia, Fundación Omacha, Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto de Estudios de la Orinoquia (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), 304 pp.
Rosales, J., M. Bevilacqua, W. Díaz, R. Pérez, D. Rivas & S. Caura. 2003. Riparian vegetation communities of the Caura River Basin, Bolívar State, Venezuela. In: Chernoff B., A. Machado-Allison, K. Riseng & J. R. Montambault (eds.). A biological assessment of the aquatic ecosystems of the Caura River Basin, Bolívar State, Venezuela. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 28. Washington, D. C.: Conservation International, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Department of Conservation Biology, 284 pp.
Rosales, J. & O. Huber (eds.). 1996. Ecología de la cuenca del rio Caura, Venezuela, I. Caracterización general. Scientia Guianae 6: 1–152.
Sánchez-Villagra M., P. Pritchard, A. Paolillo & O. Linares. 1995. Geographic variation in the matamata turtle, Chelus fimbriatus, with observations on its morphology and morphometry. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(4): 293– 300.
Spinks, P., A. Georges & H. B. Shaffer. 2015. Phylogenetic uncertainty and taxonomic re-revisions: an example from the Australian short-necked turtles (Testudines: Chelidae). Copeia 2015: 536–540
Thomaz, A. T., L. R. Malabarba & L. L. Knowles. 2017. Genomic signatures of paleogeographic history in the Neotropical seasonal forest and savanna: the diversification of the annual killifish genus Cynopoecilus. Molecular Ecology 26(10): 2716–2732.
TTWG-Turtle Taxonomy Working Group [Rhodin A., J. Iverson, R. Bour, U. Fritz, A. Georges, B. Shaffer & P. van Dijk]. 2021. Turtles of the World: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status (9th ed.). In: Rhodin A., J. Iverson, P. van Dijk, C. Stanford, E. Goode, K. Buhlmann & R. Mittermeier (eds.): Conservation biology of freshwater turtles and tortoises: A compilation project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 8:1–472.
Vargas-Ramírez, M., S. Caballero, M. Morales-Betancourt, C. Lasso, L. Amaya, J. Martínez, M. Silva Viana, R. Vogt, I. Farias, T. Hrbek, P. Campbell & U. Fritz. 2020. Genomic analyses reveal two species of the matamata (Testudines: Chelidae: Chelus spp.) and clarify their phylogeography. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 148: 106823.
Willis, S. C., M. Nunes, C. G. Montaña. I. P. Farias, G. Ortí & N. R. Lovejoy. 2010. The Casiquiare River acts as a corridor between the Amazonas and Orinoco river basins: Biogeographic analysis of the genus Cichla. Molecular Ecology 19: 1014–1030.
Willis, S. C., J. Macrander, I. P. Farias & G. Orti. 2012. Simultaneous delimitation of species and quantification of interspecific hybridization in Amazonian peacock cichlids (genus Cichla) using multilocus data. BMC Evolutionary Biology 12(96): 1–24.
Winemiller, K. O. & S. C. Willis. 2011. The Vaupes Arch and Casiquiare Canal: Barriers and passages. pp. 225–242. In: Albert S. J. &R. E. Reis. (eds.): Historical biogeography of Neotropical freshwater fishes. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 369 pp.
Zachos, F. E. 2016. Species concepts in biology: Historical development, theoretical foundations, and practical relevance. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 215 pp.
Published
2024-09-16
How to Cite
Escalona, T. (2024). New and unusual field records of Chelus spp. in Venezuela (Testudines: Chelidae): Registros nuevos e inusuales de Chelus spp. en Venezuela (Testudines: Chelidae). Anartia, (38), 52-63. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13755882
Section
Notas
