| East African black mud turtle | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Pelomedusidae |
| Genus: | Pelusios |
| Species: | P. subniger |
| Binomial name | |
| Pelusios subniger (Lacépède, 1788) |
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The East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) is a species of turtle in the Pelomedusidae family, traditionally found in eastern and southeastern Africa, including Madagascar. Nonindigenous populations exist on Mauritius Island, Glorieues Îsles and Diego Garcia.[1] This species is commonly confused with Pelusios castaneus.
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The East African black mud turtle has a smooth domed carapace with a length of 5.1-7.9 inches. The carapace is typically dark brown, gray or black, often with yellow markings on the margins. The plastron is hinged, and can be brown, grey, black or yellow. The upper jaw has a blunt unnotched, non-bucuspid tomium. The head of an adult is generally uniform in color, never vermiculated. Like all sidenecked turtles, the neck retracts sideways.[2]
Prior to 2007, Pelusios subniger was thought to be common in captivity. Most captive individuals, including those residing in zoos and hobbyist collections, have since been identified as Pelusios castaneus. The number of Pelusios subniger individuals in captivity remains low.[3]
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