Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I believe the following specimen to be in the Genus Pelusios, but am unsure of the species -- I have created a gallery with various views of it at the link below

I lean towards Pelusios niger -- but it does not seem quite right for that species.

Mud turtles - African or otherwise - are a weakness of mine.

A little help?

Darrell

Unknown Pelusios

Darrell,

I am inclined to agree with you. It looks like a young P. niger. Using Chris's picture, my estimate of the plastral formula is abdominal>femoral>humeral>intergular>anal=gular(hard to tell from the photo!)>pectoral. which is similar to the formula presented in Ernst and Barbour 1989 TOTW. The short anterior lobe of the plastron is also consistent with P. niger. The troubling thing for me is the apparent black stripe on the dorsal keel. It is one of the diagnostic features of P. gabonensis; however the plastral formula should be much different.

There are precious few people who can identify more than 2-3 Pelusios to the species level and most of them are publishing their articles in French (see Manouria).

Thanks for the input! A confusing genus to be sure.

Chris
http://www.chelonia.org/

so chris, darrell, any verdict?
"a subspecies of gabonensis" doesn't seem too definitive
and i thought the latest article(s) on this taxon decided gabonensis HAS no subspecies.(that chapini, marani, gabonensis and castaneus and carinatus all were left at or updated to specific status)

i still think it looks like bechuanicus.

I am pretty sure that it is not P. bechuanicus. Do you have a copy of broadley's (1981) review of the genus? There is a photo of P. bechuanicus on p.647 and it appears to be the most distinctive looking turtle in the genus. I have had the opportunity to see many/most? of the Pelusios sp. (including P. gabonensis which I don't think the mystery turtle is a subsp of) in the flesh, but haven't seen P. bechuanicus or P. umpembe yet.

Which recent publication were you referring to?

pj