Brazilian snake-necked turtle

Brazilian snake-necked turtle
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Genus: Hydromedusa
Species:
H. maximiliani
Binomial name
Hydromedusa maximiliani
(Mikan, 1825)
Synonyms
  • Emys maximiliani
    Mikan, 1825
  • Chelodina flavilabris
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835
  • Hydromedusa flavilabris
    Gray, 1844
  • Hydromedusa subdepressa
    Gray, 1854
  • Hydromedusa depressa
    Gray, 1856
  • Hydromedusa bankae
    Giebel, 1866

The Brazilian snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa maximiliani ), locally known as cágado da serra, and also commonly known as Maximilian's snake-necked turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic 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.