The Blue Dragon and 39 Other Bizarre Creatures That Will Blow Your Mind
Mata Mata Turtle
Some call the Mata Mata the weirdest turtle in the world. After all, it does look like the offspring of a regular turtle and a crocodile. Interestingly, it’s also been renamed 14 times since 1783, when it was first classified as a specie of freshwater turtle.
Mata Mata is native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. And the distinct markings on its head and shell help it blend in with the litter at the bottom of shallow streams. But instead of hunting, these bottom feeders lie in wait until fish approach. Then, they stretch out their necks and swallow their prey whole.
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