Okavango mud turtle

The Okavango mud turtle or Okavango terrapin^[3]) (Pelusios bechuanicus) 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.^[1]

Okavango mud turtle
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	Pelomedusidae
Genus:	Pelusios
Species:	P. bechuanicus
Binomial name
Pelusios bechuanicus FitzSimons, 1932[1][2]
Synonyms[2]
Pelusios bechuanicus FitzSimons, 1932 Pelusios castaneus bechuanicus Mertens, 1971 Pelusios bechuanicus bechuanicus Broadley, 1981

Distribution

Found in central Africa, central Angola, northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia^[4]

Description

The Okavango mud turtle is the largest species of the genus Pelusios. The carapace is oval and elongated, with a pronounced dome, and is evenly rounded at the edges which allows the turtle to appear as a smooth rock.^[4] The carapace is very dark, often almost black, and lightens up to yellow or orange only at the sides. The plastron is well developed and can close the shell completely, with a rounded front lobe that comes together to form the hinge that is characteristic of the genus.^[4]

Biology

The turtle is observed most often in clear, deep, calm waters, in rivers, and in vegetation-choked swamps.^[4] It is a semi-aquatic animal that remains in the water most of the year. It is observed outside of the water habitat only when seeking temporary aquatic refuge during the dry season.^[4] The breeding season occurs during the southern summer and nests are quite large, between 20 and 50 eggs.^[4] The turtle is most frequent prey to the shoe-billed stork and it is characteristically a carnivore, feeding on fish and invertebrates.^[4]