Senegal flapshell turtle

The Senegal flapshell turtle (Cyclanorbis senegalensis) is a species of turtle in the subfamily Cyclanorbinae of the family Trionychidae. The species, which is one of two species of softshell turtles in the genus Cyclanorbis, is endemic to Africa.

Senegal flapshell turtle
Underside of shell
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Cyclanorbis
Species:	C. senegalensis
Binomial name
Cyclanorbis senegalensis (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835)
Synonyms[3]
Cryptopus senegalensis A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Emyda senegalensis — Gray, 1844 Cyclanorbis petersii Gray, 1854 Cyclanosteus petersii — Gray, 1856 Cycloderma senegalense — A.H.A. Duméril, 1860 (ex errore) Cycloderma petersii — Strauch, 1862 Cyclanosteus senegalensis — Gray, 1864 Tetrathyra baikii Gray, 1865 Tetrathyra vaillantii Rochebrune, 1884 Cyclanorbis senegalensis — Boulenger, 1889

Geographic range

C. senegalensis is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Togo.^[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of C. senegalensis are freshwater wetlands and savanna.^[1]

Cyclanorbis senegalensis

Description

C. senegalensis may attain a straight-line carapace length of 35 cm (14 in).^[4]

The head is olive, with numerous white dots. The carapace is olive, either uniform or with small dark blotches. Hatchlings have longitudinal rows of small tubercles on the carapace. The plastron is yellowish, clouded with brown. The plastral callosities are finely granular.^[4]

Diet

C. senegalensis preys upon tadpoles, other amphibians, and fishes. Large adults of C. senegalensis have jaws strong enough to also eat freshwater clams and snails.^[1]