West African Mud Turtle Pelusios castaneus

The West African Mud Turtle, also called West African Side-necked, is a terrapin native to swamps, streams, ponds and lakes of West and Central Africa.

The carapace can grow up to 11 inches (28cm) long. They are mainly carnivorous, eating any aquatic or land-based prey they can catch, but also eat some fruit/vegetation. The name "Pelusios" means "mud" and in summer droughts when seasonal ponds, lakes or streams dry out, they use their strong claws to dig themselves into the mud and "aestivate" until rain returns.