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.
The African helmeted turtle, 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.
Chelodina, collectively known as snake-necked turtles, is a large and diverse genus of long-necked chelid turtles with a complicated nomenclatural history. Although in the past, Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys have been considered separate genera and prior to that all the same, they are now considered subgenera of the Chelodina, further Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys are now known to apply to the same species, hence Chelydera is used for the northern snake-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).
The Western New Guinea stream turtle or New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of freshwater turtle in the Chelidae family. It is found in the Bird's Head Peninsula and the Bomberai Peninsula west of Cenderawasih Bay, and on the island of Waigeo of West Papua, Indonesia.
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 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 serrated hinged terrapin is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is native to East Africa and Southern Africa. There are two recognised subspecies.
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 Ivory Coast mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is one of the most recently described turtle species.
The Pelusios cupulatta is typically found in riverine and wetland habitats mainly located in the southern Ivory Coast of West Africa. Endemic to the Upper Guinean forest region such as wetlands/rivers they are usually found primarily in forested banks as well as aquatic vegetation. Compared to other counterparts within its family, P. Cupulatta prefers an abundance of aquatic vegetation as its primary habitat. Despite this, Pelusios castaneus is a potential competitor due to similar habitats albeit different preferences regarding specific locations. Interspecific competition is able to regulate the coexistence of potential competitors but also niche expansion is available within the family when alone.
Comparative to other species at a local spatial level, Pelusios niger and Pelusios cupulatta both belong to larger size categories compared to others within the Pelusios records with the maximum male SCL being 31.3 and the maximum female SCL being 27.1. The two different turtle species are also allopatric, meaning that they are related but occur in separate non-overlapping geographical areas compared to the sympatric of P. castaneus. White P. castaneus intensely uses forested banks, P, and cupulatta aren't typically found in such areas as they aim for places with large amounts of aquatic vegetation. In presence of P. niger, P. cupulatta are usually found less than 10 km away showing how closely these two groups typically reside at roughly close locations.
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.
