Serrated hinged terrapin

The serrated hinged terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus) is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is native to East Africa and Southern Africa. There are two recognised subspecies.

Serrated hinged terrapin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	Pelomedusidae
Genus:	Pelusios
Species:	P. sinuatus
Binomial name
Pelusios sinuatus (A. Smith, 1838)
Synonyms[1]
Sternotherus sinuatus A. Smith, 1838 Sternothaerus sinuatus — Boulenger, 1889 Pelusios sinuatus — Schmidt, 1919

Geographic range

P. sinuatus is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.^[1]

Habitat and behaviour

The preferred natural habitats of P. sinuatus are tropical lakes and rivers, where it can often be seen basking on logs, rocks, or mud banks, or even on the backs of sleeping hippopotami.^[2]

Diet

P. sinuatus eats water snails, soft-weed, and insects.^[2]

Description

The largest species in the genus Pelusios, P. sinuatus has a straight carapace length of up to 55 cm (22 in). Females are larger than males. Males can also be distinguished by their slightly longer tails.^[2]

Defence

For defence, the hinged plastron of P. sinuatus closes to protect the head and forelimbs. The serrated hinged terrapin also secretes a foul odour when threatened.^[2]

Breeding

The female serrated hinged terrapin lays seven to 25 eggs, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) from the nearest water, in October to January. Hatchlings appear in March to April.^[3]

Subspecies

The following two subspecies are recognised as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[1]

• Pelusios sinuatus bottegi Boulenger, 1895
• Pelusios sinuatus sinuatus A. Smith, 1838

Etymology

The subspecific name, bottegi is in honour of Italian explorer Vittorio Bottego.^[4]

See also

• Pelomedusa subrufa, a similar species