Tanoa
| Pelusios | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Pelusios castaneus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Pleurodira |
| Family: | Pelomedusidae |
| Genus: |
Pelusios Wagler, 1830 |
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Sternothaerus Bell, 1825 |
|
See text.
Sternothaerus Bell, 1825
Anota Gray, 1863
Notoa Gray, 1863
Tanoa Gray, 1863
Pelusios is a genus of African side-necked turtles. With 20 described species, it is one of the most diverse genera of the turtle order (Testudines).
The Latin name Pelusios means "mud" or "clay", and this is reflected by the turtles habitually burying themselves to find refuge and food.
Common names for the genus Pelusios include hinged terrapins,African mud turtles, and mud terrapins.
Several species have been described, with probably numerous undescribed species. The taxonomy of the genus is very confused, as these species show many local variations. Certain species, in isolated areas or with reduced populations, need to be observed as they face a distinct extinction possibility given the significant number collected by native people.
They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles islands. They have also been introduced on the islands of the Lesser Antilles.
The African mud turtles range from being small in size, only 12 cm (4.7 in) carapace length for adult Pelusios nanus, to moderately large, 46 cm (18 in) for adult Pelusios sinuatus, while the large majority of species fall between 20 and 30 cm (7.9 and 11.8 in) carapace length. The carapaces are oblong, moderately high-domed, and the plastrons are large and hinged which is what distinguishes them from the Pelomedusa. The plastron contains a mesoplastron and also well-developed plastral buttresses that articulate with the costals on each side of the carapace. The carapace has 11 pairs of sutured peripherals around its margin and a neck without costiform processes. The jaw closure articulates on a pterygoid which lacks a synovial capsule but instead contains a saclike duct full of fluid from the mouth cavity. The head shape is wide and flat, with a seemingly “smiling” face created by the jaw closure. The skull lacks the epipterygoid bone (bone above the pterygoid extending to parietal bone) and parietal-squamosal contact but possesses an internal carotid canal and strong postorbital-squamosal contact.
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Wikipedia