East African black mud turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East African black mud turtle |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Pelusios
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| Species: |
subniger
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The East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger), also known as the Pan terrapin, is a type of turtle found in eastern and southeastern Africa. It belongs to the Pelomedusidae family.
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About the East African Black Mud Turtle
The East African black mud turtle has a smooth, rounded upper shell called a carapace. This shell can be about 5 to 8 inches long. It is usually dark brown, gray, or black. Sometimes, it has yellow or dark marks along its edges. These turtles often have dull colors, like many others in their group.
The bottom shell, called the plastron, has a hinge. This means it can move. The plastron can be brown, gray, black, or yellow. The turtle's upper jaw is blunt and smooth. The head of an adult turtle usually has one solid color.
Like all side-necked turtles, this turtle pulls its head into its shell sideways. It does not pull its head straight back. People sometimes confuse this species with the West African mud turtle.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of this turtle:
- P. s. subniger – This is the main type.
- P. s. parietalis – This type is called the Seychelles black mud turtle.
Where They Live
These turtles live in many parts of eastern and southeastern Africa. You can find them as far south as Zimbabwe. They also live on islands like Madagascar and the Seychelles. The Seychelles black mud turtle (P. s. parietalis) lives only in the Seychelles.
Some populations of these turtles have also been found in new places. These include Mauritius Island, Guadeloupe, Glorieuses Îsles, and Diego Garcia. They like to live in marshes, lakes, and streams.
What They Eat and How They Live
The East African black mud turtle is an omnivorous animal. This means it eats both plants and animals. Their diet includes fish, small creatures without backbones (like insects), and different types of plants.
These turtles can live a long time. They have been known to live over 50 years when cared for by humans. In the wild, they can live up to 47 years.
Female turtles lay nests with 3 to 12 eggs. They lay their eggs in the spring and bury them in the mud. The eggs usually hatch after about two months.
Even though you might see them warming themselves in the sun during the day, these turtles are more active at night. This means they are nocturnal. They also dig into the mud to help control their body temperature.
Protecting These Turtles
The main type of East African black mud turtle (P. s. subniger) is currently listed as "least concern" by the IUCN. This means there are enough of them, and they are not in immediate danger. However, the Seychelles subspecies (P. s. parietalis) is thought to be "critically endangered." This means it is very close to disappearing from the wild.
Keeping Them as Pets
The East African black mud turtle can be a good pet. They are strong, medium-sized turtles. A 20-gallon tank is a good size for them. They need plenty of space to swim. It's also important to have a warm spot where they can climb out of the water and bask under a light.
To keep them healthy, the water's pH level should be between 6.0 and 6.5. Since they are tropical animals, their water temperature should stay between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (about 25-28 degrees Celsius).
These turtles are usually easy to handle and are not aggressive towards people. However, they can be very aggressive towards other turtles. Because of this, they should not be kept with other types of turtles. If you want to house them with other East African black mud turtles, introduce them slowly.
If you keep them outdoors, it's a good idea to screen over their habitat. This is because they will attack and kill birds, mice, insects, and almost anything else they can catch. Keeping birds and rodents out also helps prevent diseases from spreading to your turtle.
