This Odd-Looking Turtle Always Has a Smile on Its Face and Feeds in an Incredible Way

Algae and weeds grow on turtle’s skin and shell, providing further camouflage. Image credit: Cedricguppy – Loury Cédric
The mata mata has a strange way of hunting that involves a unique method of herding its prey. They’ve been observed chasing fish into the corner of an aquarium, where they remain trapped.

With prey finally being close by, the mata mata thrusts out its head and opens its large mouth as wide as possible. Then, it creates a low-pressure vacuum that sucks the prey into its mouth, known as suction feeding. When the turtle snaps its mouth shut, the water is slowly expelled, and the fish is swallowed whole (the mata mata cannot chew due to the way its mouth is constructed.)