Scientists discover new species of turtle that looks like a muddy rock

Finally, some good news: A new turtle species has been discovered. 

Scientist and professor Dr. Uwe Fritz of the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden, Germany and his international team have identified a new type of fringed turtle, also called matamata.

These reptiles don't look like your usual house pet turtle; they hide in the mud and, as such, look like rocks covered in algae when underwater. They also don't eat like other turtles, either: When prey approaches, it's sucked into their large mouths and then swallowed whole.

"Until now, it was assumed that there was only one type of [armor-wearer] that was widespread in South America," said Fritz in a Senckenberg press release, translated from German to English. Read more...

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