Brazilian Snake-necked Turtle
Hydromedusa maximiliani
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyChelidae (Austro-American Side-necked Turtles)
- GenusHydromedusa (South American Snake-necked Turtles)
- SpeciesHydromedusa maximiliani (Brazilian Snake-necked Turtle)
About the Brazilian Snake-necked Turtle
The Brazilian snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa maximiliani), also known commonly as Maximilian's snake-necked turtle, and locally known in Brazilian Portuguese as cágado-da-serra ("mountain turtle") and cágado-pescoço-de-cobra ("snake-necked turtle"), is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is native to southeastern Brazil. It is one of the smallest Brazilian freshwater turtles, reaching a maximum straight carapace length of 20 cm (7.9 in). The species prefers streams with sandy and rocky bottoms and clear water in forests above 600 m (2,000 ft) elevation.
The specific name, maximiliani, is in honor of German naturalist Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied. First described as Emys maximiliani by Mikan (1825), it was subsequently moved to the genus Hydromedusa by Wagler (1830). Several other species described later have since been synonymized with this species. There are no recognised subspecies.
The Brazilian snake-necked turtle is a small species reaching a straight carapace length of between 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) with a weight of 120–520 g (4.2–18.3 oz). The carapace of the adult is oval in shape varying in color from... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Brazilian Snake-necked Turtle in Serra dos Órgãos National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serra dos Órgãos National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
More parks will be added in future updates.