By Rizal Obanil A scientist in Germany has recently discovered a new turtle species that looks like an algae-covered rock. In an article for Mashable Southeast Asia, Ana Iovine wrote that Dr. Uwe Fritz of Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden and his team have discovered the existence of “matamata”, a new type of fringe turtle. “Until now, it was assumed that there was only one type of that was widespread in South America," Fritz said in a statement said. According to Fritz, the split between the recently discovered matamata, which can be found in Orinoco and Rio Negro basins in South America and the ones that reside in the Amazon basin happened some 13 million years ago. The matamata, Dr. Fritz said, does not look like the “usual house pet.” They hide in mud and can more often than not be mistaken for rocks covered in algae. Also, unlike their turtle cousins, the matamata hunts prey differently. When a prey is close by, it sucks it into its large mouth and swallows it whole.