Pelomedusidae is a family of freshwater turtles endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles. They range in size from 12 to 45 cm 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.
Pelusios is a genus of African side-necked turtles. With 17 described species, it is one of the most diverse genera of the turtle order (Testudines).
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.
The yellow-bellied mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is found in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania.
The variable mud turtle, also known as Rhodesian mud turtle, Mashona hinged terrapin or variable hinged terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is widely distributed in Central, East, and Southern Africa. The species was officially described by John Hewitt in 1927 and had to be broken into subspecies due to color variations on the heads of the turtles acrost the regions.
The East African black mud turtle, also known as the Pan terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae, native to eastern and southeastern Africa.
The saw-shelled turtle is a species of turtle in the Chelidae family endemic to Australia, ranging along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons from coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales, with populations also noted as far south as Newcastle -. They are thought to have been introduced to Lake Eacham in the Atherton Tablelands. Other common English names are: serrated snapping turtle or common sawshell turtle.
The African softshell turtle, or Nile softshell turtle, is a large species of softshell turtle from freshwater and brackish-water habitats in Africa and the Near East. It is the only extant species in the genus Trionyx; historically, despite other species having been formerly placed in this genus as well, they have all been reclassified to other genera. Despite the common name of "African softshell turtle", Trionyx triunguis is not the sole species of softshell turtle found in Africa—the generas Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma are African—nor is it solely found on that continent, alone. T. triunguis is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes ranging from 85 to 94 cm, with a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivorous in their diet, consuming not only small fish, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceans, but also floating palm seeds and fallen leaves, and some aquatic vegetation.
The Central American snapping turtle, also known commonly as the Mexican snapping turtle and the Yucatán snapping turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelydridae. The species is endemic to Central America and Mexico.
Phrynops williamsi, also known commonly as Williams' side-necked turtle, Williams' South American sideneck turtle, William's [sic] South American side-necked turtle, William's [sic] toadhead turtle, and Williams' toadhead turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to South America.
The West African mud turtle, 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.
Adanson's mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to north-central Africa.
The Okavango mud turtle or Okavango terrapin) 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.
The African keeled mud turtle 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.
The Central African mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to Central Africa.
The African forest turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa, where it can be found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda
Pelusios marani, also known as the Gabon mud turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. This species is endemic to Africa.
The African dwarf mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa : in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia. These mud turtles are the smallest of all African turtle species, “Nanus” which they are referred to are one of the 3 smallest turtle species in the world. The other two are Stink Pot Musk and Muhlenberg's Bog Turtles. All 3 species barely reach 4 inches as full grown adults. Like many of the world's chelonians, Pelusios castaneus has the potential to live a long life. Reports typically suggest more than 50 years in captivity for this species.
The West African black turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa, in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria.
Williams' mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Luiselli, L., Di Vittorio, M., Rhodin, A. G., & Iverson, J. B. (2021). Variation of Community Assembly rules of a whole turtle family (Pelomedusidae) from Continental to local scales in Africa. Ecological Research, 36(6), 961–976. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.12255 Luiselli, L., Diagne, T., & Mcgovern, P. (2021). Prioritizing the next decade of freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation in West Africa. Journal for Nature Conservation, 60, 125977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2021.125977 Petrozzi, F., Ajong, S. N., Pacini, N., Dendi, D., Bi, S. G., Fa, J. E., & Luiselli, L. (2021). Spatial niche expansion at multiple habitat scales of a tropical freshwater turtle in the absence of a potential competitor. Diversity, 13(2), 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020055
