# 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.

- **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![West African Mud Turtle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pelusios_castaneus_Emmen.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Leptictidium, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pelusios_castaneus_Emmen.JPG)

## Appearance

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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Testudines
- **Family:** Pelomedusidae
- **Genus:** Pelusios

## Interesting facts

- 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.

## Special abilities

- **Shell Sentinel:** This turtle has a hinged plastron that can close tightly against its carapace, creating a strong protective box from predators.
- **Aquatic Ambusher:** Its streamlined shell and dark colors help the West African Mud Turtle blend into murky waters, ambushing unsuspecting prey.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 15-25 cm
- **Weight:** 0.5-1 kg
- **Lifespan:** 15-30 years
- **Speed:** 0.5 km/h
- **Swim Speed:** 1.5 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 6-18
- **Incubation:** 60-90 days
- **Maximum Depth:** 3 m

## Diet & Feeding

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

- **Primary Foods:** Insects, Fish, Amphibians, Snails, Aquatic plants, Carrion
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **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.
- **Shelter:** African White Water Lily (*Nymphaea lotus*) — Uses dense aquatic vegetation for cover and hunting.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not touch wild turtles; they need their space to be safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify West African Mud Turtle?

Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is West African Mud Turtle?

15-25 cm

### How much does West African Mud Turtle weigh?

0.5-1 kg

### How long does West African Mud Turtle live?

15-30 years

### How fast can West African Mud Turtle move?

0.5 km/h

### What does West African Mud Turtle eat?

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

### How fast can West African Mud Turtle swim?

1.5 km/h

### Where is West African Mud Turtle usually found?

Wetlands

## More Reptiles

- [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*)
- [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*)
- [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*)
- [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*)

---

Source: [West African Mud Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/west-african-mud-turtle)