Nature Photos That Opened Our Eyes

Mata Mata Turtle

Instead of hunting, mata matas blending in with the vegetation and wait for dinner to come to them. When a fish approaches, the turtle stretches its neck out and opens its mouth wide to create a vacuum and suck their prey in. A mata mata’s neck is longer than its vertebra. This turtle originates in South America’s Amazon and Orinoco basins.

Up next: Jarring nature photos continues…