African Helmeted Turtle Pelomedusa subrufa

The African Helmeted Turtle is a terrapin native to swamps, streams, ponds and lakes of much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is also sometimes called the African Side-necked Turtle, but that name is also given to the Serrated Hinged Terrapin, Pelusios sinuatus, a similar mud turtle native to eastern and southern Africa.

The carapace is light or dark brown or black and grows typically to some 20cm (8 inches) long, but can grow to 30cm. Upper and lower shells are not hinged. They are mainly carnivorous, eating any aquatic or land-based prey they can catch, but also some fruit/vegetation. A mud turtle, in summer drought they use their strong claws to dig themselves into the mud and "aestivate".