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

As suggested by the above-mentioned shepherding behavior, the mata mata is probably quite smart. Captive mata matas have even been observed making use of water pump flow to pin down prey in their aquarium.

This indicates that these animals are actually able to solve problems intelligently, and that there’s more going on inside that flat, lumpy head than meets the eye.

Oh, that eternal smile… Image credit: Joachim S. Müller
Mata mata turtles aren’t currently listed as endangered, but their unique qualities make them a common target of pet hunters, and they often end up in aquariums. But since they are relatively difficult to keep as pets, and don’t like the stress of being handled, they’re often kept poorly and struggle with health issues when held in captivity.

So let’s just leave them alone in their natural environment!