Adanson's mud turtle
Kingdom
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Subphylum
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Genus
SPECIES
Pelusios adansonii

Adanson's mud turtle (Pelusios adansonii ) is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to north-central Africa.

Appearance

Adanson's mud turtle is a medium-sized turtle that lives in freshwater. The turtle's shell can grow up to 238 mm (9.4 in) (straight carapace length) and is known to be sharp and rigid, with dark brown spots and dashes. The ventral part of the shell (plastron) is yellow.

Distribution

Geography

P. adansonii is found in Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Sudan. There are at least three distinct populations within the turtle's distribution.

Diet and Nutrition

Adanson's mud turtle is carnivorous. It eats mollusks, fish, and small amphibians.

Population

Population number

Although Adanson's mud turtle does not seem to be at risk of becoming an endangered species, destruction of its habitat (largely due to farming) and hunting by humans have both reduced its population. Hunting by humans persists despite local laws forbidding the activity in some of the countries in which the turtle is found.

References

1. Adanson's mud turtle Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adanson's_mud_turtle

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