‖ matamata|mætəˈmætə| [? S. American; used as zoological Latin in 1822 by Merrem in Isis 690.] A South American turtle, Chelys fimbriata. 1840Cuvier's Anim.Kingd. 272 The Matamata (Testudo fimbria, Gm.).1876Beneden's Anim. Parasites 58 The Matamata, a turtle living in the brackish water of Guiana.