African Black Mud Turtle

Description:

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.

Habitat:

traditionally found in eastern and southeastern Africa, including Madagascar. Nonindigenous populations exist on Mauritius Island, Glorieues Îsles and Diego Garcia.

Notes:

Spotted at the Maritime Aquarium.