Professor of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History in Dresden, Germany. Dr. Uwe Fritz and the international research team have discovered a new species of turtle turtle. Until now, the genus Chelus was thought to contain only one species. The new turtle species is unlike standard turtles that feed at home. It hides in mud and therefore resembles a rock covered with algae while underwater. Also, this turtle does not feed like other turtles. He takes his prey directly into his mouth and swallows it as a whole. New turtle species detected by genetic differences Fritz explained that matamata turtles knew very little about their genetics, except for their strange looks and food styles. The new species was therefore discovered late. Fritz and his team worked on 75 DNA samples to see if there was a genetic difference, as previous studies showed that the appearance of the matatas could change. The newly discovered turtle species can be protected Fritz and his team’s research for the new turtle species was published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evrim. According to the article’s lead author Professor Mario Vargas-Ramírez, the generation of the new matamata turtle is not currently in danger of extinction. However, this does not mean that turtles do not need protection. “Thousands of these strange-looking animals are caught in illegal animal trafficking and seized by the authorities. We must protect these fascinating animals before it’s too late,” Vargas-Ramírez said. He warns against future risks.
