Argentine snake-necked turtle

Argentine snake-necked turtle
Hydromedusa tectifera
in an aquarium in Japan
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Hydromedusa
Species:
H. tectifera
Binomial name
Hydromedusa tectifera
Cope, 1869
Synonyms
  • Hydromedusa tectifera
    Cope, 1870
  • Hydromedusa platanensis
    Gray, 1873
  • Hydromedusa wagleri
    Günther, 1884
  • Hydromedusa tectifara [sic]
    Nutaphand, 1979 (ex errore)

The Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera), also known commonly as the South American snake-necked turtle is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is known for the long neck to which its common names refer. Despite appearances, the Argentine snake-necked turtle is probably more closely related to the mata mata (Chelus fimbriatus) than to the Australian snake-necked turtles in the genus Chelodina. H. tectifera is found in northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. Not much is known about it, as it has not been extensively researched. It is a popular pet in the exotic pet trade.