Senegal flapshell turtle

The Senegal flapshell turtle (Cyclanorbis senegalensis) is a species of turtle in the subfamily Cyclanorbinae of the family Trionychidae. The species, which is one of two species of softshell turtles in the genus Cyclanorbis, is endemic to Africa.

Senegal flapshell turtle
Underside of shell
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Cyclanorbis
Species:
C. senegalensis
Binomial name
Cyclanorbis senegalensis
Synonyms[3]
  • Cryptopus senegalensis
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835
  • Emyda senegalensis
    — Gray, 1844
  • Cyclanorbis petersii
    Gray, 1854
  • Cyclanosteus petersii
    — Gray, 1856
  • Cycloderma senegalense
    — A.H.A. Duméril, 1860 (ex errore)
  • Cycloderma petersii
    — Strauch, 1862
  • Cyclanosteus senegalensis
    — Gray, 1864
  • Tetrathyra baikii
    Gray, 1865
  • Tetrathyra vaillantii
    Rochebrune, 1884
  • Cyclanorbis senegalensis
    — Boulenger, 1889

Geographic range

C. senegalensis is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Togo.[1]

Cyclanorbis senegalensis

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of C. senegalensis are freshwater wetlands and savanna.[1]

Description

C. senegalensis may attain a straight-line carapace length of 35 cm (14 in). The head is olive, with numerous white dots. The carapace is olive, either uniform or with small dark blotches. Hatchlings have longitudinal rows of small tubercles on the carapace. The plastron is yellowish, clouded with brown. The plastral callosities are finely granular.[4]

Diet

C. senegalensis preys upon tadpoles, other amphibians, and fishes. Large adults of C. senegalensis have jaws strong enough to also eat freshwater clams and snails.[1]

References
  1. Diagne, T.; Luiselli, L.; Trape, J.-F.; Rödel, M.-O.; Baker, P.J.; Chirio, L.; Petrozzi, F.; Segniagbeto, G. (2016). "Cyclanorbis senegalensis ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6005A96447114. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6005A96447114.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 313. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  4. Boulenger GA (1889). Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I–VI. (Cyclanorbis senegalensis, new combination, pp. 271-272).

Further reading
  • Trape J-F, Trape S, Chirio L (2012). Lézards, crocodiles et tortues d'Afrique occidentale et du Sahara. Paris: IRD Orstom. 503 pp. ISBN 978-2709917261. (in French).


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