Pelusios
Encyclopedia
Pelusios is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of African side-necked turtle. Several species have been described and there are probably numerous undescribed species. The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...

 of the genus is very confused as these species show many local variations. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...

, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

 and the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....

 islands.
Species include:
  • Pelusios adansonii
  • Pelusios bechuanicus
  • Pelusios broadleyi
  • Pelusios carinatus
  • Pelusios castaneus
  • Pelusios castanoides (subspecies Pelusios castanoides intergularis & Pelusios castanoides intergularis)
  • Pelusios chapini
  • Pelusios cupulatta
  • Pelusios gabonensis
  • Pelusios marani
  • Pelusios nanus
  • Pelusios niger
  • Pelusios rhodesianus
  • Pelusios seychellensis (extinct)
  • Pelusios sinuatus
    Pelusios sinuatus
    The serrated hinged terrapin is a species of turtle in the Pelomedusidae family.It is found in southern Africa in lakes and rivers, and is the largest species in the genus Pelusios....

  • Pelusios subniger (subspecies Pelusios subniger subniger & Pelusios subniger parietalis)
  • Pelusios upembae
  • Pelusios williamsi (subspecies Pelusios williamsi williamsi, Pelusios williamsi laurenti & Pelusios williamsi lutescens)

External links

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