West African Mud Turtle

Pelusios castaneus

The West African Mud Turtle is a small turtle that loves to live in muddy waters. It has a soft shell and can hide in the mud to stay safe from predators.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The West African Mud Turtle has a smooth, somewhat flattened shell ranging from olive to dark brown or black. Its head is dark, sometimes with lighter spots or markings, and it possesses small, sensory barbels on its chin, which are uncommon among turtles.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseTestudinesFamiliaPelomedusidaeGéneroPelusios

West African Mud Turtle

Categoría

Reptiles

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Baby mud turtles are smaller than a golf ball when they hatch!

It can stay buried in mud for many months during long droughts.

Some West African villagers believe seeing this turtle brings good luck!

Unlike many turtles, it can walk quite far on land to find new ponds.

Habilidades especiales

This turtle has a hinged plastron that can close tightly against its carapace, creating a strong protective box from predators.

Its streamlined shell and dark colors help the West African Mud Turtle blend into murky waters, ambushing unsuspecting prey.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 15-25 cm
Peso: 0.5-1 kg
Esperanza de vida: 15-30 años
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Velocidad de nado: 1.5 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 6-18
Incubación: 60-90 días
Profundidad máxima: 3 m

Dieta y alimentación

This turtle is an omnivore, munching on insects, small fish, snails, and even some aquatic plants!

Alimentos principales

Insects
Fish
Amphibians
Snails
Aquatic plants
Carrion

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

Large crocodiles prey on turtles in shared habitats.

eats

Nile Tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus

Preys on smaller fish in their aquatic environment.

eats

Mosquito

Anopheles gambiae

Feeds on aquatic insect larvae found in its habitat.

shelters

African White Water Lily

Nymphaea lotus

Uses dense aquatic vegetation for cover and hunting.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Omnívoro

Este rasgo identifica organismos cuya dieta incluye tanto materia vegetal como animal.

Camuflado

El camuflaje describe a los organismos que poseen colores o patrones que les permiten mezclarse con su entorno.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.