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Testudines: Pelomedusidae: Afro-American Sideneck Turtles |
| The Pelomedusidae are considered the most ancient living turtles with a fossil record that is at least 120 million years old. Fossils have been found in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, they occur only in the Southern Hemisphere, with most of the species in Africa and Madagascar (subfamily Pelomedusinae). They range from 120 to about 420 mm in length and they tend to have oblong shells. However there are New World representatives, the subfamily Podocneminae contains the Western Hemisphere Podocnemis and Peltocephalus, as well as the Madagascar Erymnochelys. The Afro-America Sidenecks compose five genera with about 26 species. These carnivorus and omnivorous turtles usually use slow moving water of lakes, swamps, and ponds where they walk along the bottom in search of food. However, the large South American River Turtles of the genus Podocnemis inhabit deep rivers with strong currents. |
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The Helmeted Terrapin, Pelomedusa subrufa (Lacepede, 1788). Adults reach 330 mm, but usually less than 225 mm. They have a short retractile neck, a smooth oval shell, and a plastron that cannot move - it lacks hinges. Photo of a captive specimen.
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East African Yellow-bellied Mud Turtle, Pelusios castanoides Hewitt, 1931. Photographs of a captive specimen. Adults reach 230 mm. The species occurs in eastern Africa from Malawi and Mozambique southward to eastern South Africa. Populations of this species also occur on Madagascar and in the Seychelle Islands (Indian Ocean). This little turtle inhabits marshes and swamps, and estivates in the mud during the dry season. Females lay 5-25 eggs after the first rains, and continue to lay eggs during the Southern Hemisphere summer. Food includes snails, other invertebrates, fish, and aquatic vegetation.
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