Okavango mud turtle
The Okavango Pelomeduse ( Pelusios bechuanicus ) is a water -bound nature of the neck turner turtles, which belongs to the family of Pelomedusenschildkröten.
Appearance
The Okavango Pelomeduse reaches a carapace length of up to 33 centimeters. The females are slightly larger than males. The color of the carapace is black to dark brown and occasionally has a yellow-orange mark on. The plastron is predominantly black with occasionally a yellowish center in the middle.
The head is large with a tapering snout. The head color is uniformly black with a yellowish drawing. The skin on the neck and at the top of the barrels is light gray, and plays something into yellowish. Each foot has five claws. On the forelegs, the third claw is the longest. On the hind feet, it is the second.
Area of distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Okavango Pelomeduse includes the Okavango Delta, the marshland near Linyanti and parts of the Zambezi River. Your preferred habitat is deep, clear waters with a rich plant growth. It occurs both in rivers and in swamps.
Nutrition and reproduction
The Okavango Pelomeduse is a very shy turtle, which is so far little explored. Their diet consists mainly of fish and invertebrates. The mating season falls in the early summer. The females lay their eggs, which comprise 21-48 eggs in moist soil. The eggs are elliptical in shape. About the incubation period until hatching of turtles boys are no adequate data.