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Pelomedusidae
:''Alternatively, "Pelomedusidae" may refer to the Pelomedusoidea. See below for details.'' Pelomedusidae is a family of freshwater turtles endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles (although this population may have been introduced by humans). They range in size from in carapace length, and are generally roundish in shape. They are unable to fully withdraw their heads into their shells, instead drawing them to the side and folding them beneath the upper edge of their shells, hence are called African side-necked turtles. The family contains two living genera, '' Pelomedusa'' and '' Pelusios''. They are distinguished from their closest relatives by a hinge in the front section of the plastron.Obst, Fritz Jürgen (1998): elomedusinae ''In:'' Cogger, H.G., & Zweifel, R.G. (eds.): ''Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians'': 112-113. San Diego: Academic Press. . Pelomedusids spends most of their time in the mud at the bottom of rivers or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelomedusoidea
:''Alternatively, "Pelomedusidae" may refer to the Pelomedusoidea. See #Systematics and taxonomy, below for details.'' Pelomedusidae is a family (biology), family of freshwater turtles endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles (although this population may have been introduced by humans). They range in size from in carapace length, and are generally roundish in shape. They are unable to fully withdraw their heads into their shells, instead drawing them to the side and folding them beneath the upper edge of their shells, hence are called African side-necked turtles. The family contains two living genera, ''African helmeted turtle, Pelomedusa'' and ''Pelusios''. They are distinguished from their closest relatives by a hinge in the front section of the plastron.Obst, Fritz Jürgen (1998): [Pelomedusinae]. ''In:'' Cogger, H.G., & Zweifel, R.G. (eds.): ''Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians'': 112-113. San Diego: Academic Press. . Pelomedu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelomedusoides
The Pleurodira are one of the two living suborders of turtles, the other being the Cryptodira. The division between these two suborders represents a very deep evolutionary divide between two very different types of turtles. The physical differences between them, although anatomical and largely internal, are nonetheless significant, and the zoogeographic implications of them are substantial. The Pleurodira are known more commonly as the side-necked turtles and the name Pleurodira quite literally translates to side neck, whereas the Cryptodira are known as hidden-necked turtles. The Pleurodira turtles are currently restricted to freshwater habitats in the Southern Hemisphere, largely to Australia, South America, and Africa. Within the Pleurodira, three living families are represented: Chelidae, also known as the Austro-South American side-necked turtles, the Pelomedusidae, also known as the African mud terrapins, and the Podocnemididae, also known as the American side-neck river turt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West African Mud Turtle
The West African mud turtle (''Pelusios castaneus''), also known as the West African side-necked turtle or swamp terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. ''Pelusios castaneus'' is a freshwater species and is endemic to West and Central Africa. Taxonomy The so-called Seychelles black terrapin, Seychelles mud turtle, or Seychelles terrapin was considered a species of turtle (''Pelusios seychellensis'') in the family Pelomedusidae, endemic to Seychelles. Genetic analysis of the lectotype has shown, however, that this turtle was never a separate species, and is in fact ''Pelusios castaneus''. It is possible that specimens were confused in a private collection before being acquired by the Zoological Museum Hamburg in 1901, or else mislabeled there. Distribution The West African mud turtle is found in the following countries of West and Central Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Eq ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African Keeled Mud Turtle
The African keeled mud turtle (''Pelusios carinatus'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to central Africa : the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon Gabon ( ; ), officially the Gabonese Republic (), is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and .... References Bibliography * * African keeled mud turtle Reptiles of Central Africa Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Reptiles of the Republic of the Congo Reptiles of Gabon African keeled mud turtle Taxa named by Raymond Laurent {{turtle-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Turkana Mud Turtle
''Pelusios broadleyi'', commonly known as the Turkana mud turtle, Broadley's mud turtle, or the Lake Turkana hinged terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is native to eastern Africa. Geographic range ''Pelusios broadleyi'' is endemic to Lake Turkana in East Africa. It has only been confirmed from the Kenyan part of this lake, but may well occur in the Ethiopian (it has been recorded very close to the border). Habitat The preferred natural habitat of ''P. broadleyi'' is freshwater wetlands. Etymology The specific name, ''broadleyi'', is in honor of herpetologist Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ... Donald G. Broadley. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Okavango Mud Turtle
The Okavango mud turtle or Okavango terrapin) (''Pelusios bechuanicus'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae endemic to Africa. It is found in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia (Caprivi), Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Distribution Found in central Africa, central Angola, northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia Description The Okavango mud turtle is the largest species of the genus ''Pelusios''. The carapace is oval and elongated, with a pronounced dome, and is evenly rounded at the edges which allows the turtle to appear as a smooth rock. The carapace is very dark, often almost black, and lightens up to yellow or orange only at the sides. The plastron is well developed and can close the shell completely, with a rounded front lobe that comes together to form the hinge that is characteristic of the genus. Biology The turtle is observed most often in clear, deep, calm waters, in rivers, and in vegetation-choked swamps. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adanson's Mud Turtle
Adanson's mud turtle (''Pelusios adansonii'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to north-central Africa. Taxonomy and etymology August Friedrich Schweigger first described the turtle in 1812, based on remnants found in Senegal by French botanist Michel Adanson, for whom Schweigger named the new species as ''Emys andansonii''.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Pelusios adansonii'', pp. 1-2). Geographic range ''P. adansonii'' is found in Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Sudan. There are at least three distinct populations within the turtle's distribution. Conservation status Although Adanson's mud turtle does not seem to be at risk of becoming an endangered species, destruction of its habitat (largely due to farming) and hunting by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelomedusa Variabilis
The African helmeted turtle (''Pelomedusa subrufa''), also known commonly as the marsh terrapin, the crocodile turtle, or in the pet trade as the African side-necked turtle, is a species of omnivorous side-necked terrapin in the family Pelomedusidae. The species naturally occurs in fresh and stagnant water bodies throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and in southern Yemen. Description The marsh terrapin is typically a rather small turtle, with most individuals being less than ranging from 15 to 21 centimeters in straight carapace length, but one has been recorded with a length of . It has a black or brown carapace. The top of the tail and feet are a grayish brown, while the underside (plastron) is yellowish. The male turtle is distinguished by its long, thick tail. A female tends to have a shorter tail and a broader carapace. A hatchling has a shell size of about in length, and is olive to black in color. It also has two small tubercles under the chin and musk glands in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
