Variable mud turtle
Variable mud turtle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Pleurodira |
Family: | Pelomedusidae |
Genus: | Pelusios |
Species: | P. rhodesianus
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Binomial name | |
Pelusios rhodesianus Hewitt, 1927
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Synonyms | |
Pelusios nigricans rhodesianus Hewitt, 1927 |
The variable mud turtle (Pelusios rhodesianus), 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.[1][2] 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.[3]
Distribution
This species is found in the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa.[1] The variable mud turtle can generally be found in or around water sources or areas such as lagoons or swampy areas.[3]
Conservation status
The variable mud turtle (Pelusios rhodesianus) is currently listed as of least concern by
Facts
- All of the species in this family are very aquatic.[5]
- "A hinge between hypoplastral and mesoplastral bones allows a more or less complete closure of the anterior part of the shell."[5]
- You can often find these turtles with burn marks on the shells caused from brush fires.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Tortoise.; Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. (2016) [errata version of 1996 assessment]. "Pelusios rhodesianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T16530A97385824. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ Pelusios rhodesianus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 April 2021.
- ^ .
- S2CID 91937716.
- ^ S2CID 54882383.