Did you know?

Did You Know? Marsh terrapin May 13 2008

The marsh terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa) belongs to the family of side-necked terrapins. This genus is found in Africa, Madagascar and the Seychelles, and the species is the most common terrapin in southern Africa.

These terrapins withdraw their head into their shell by turning it sideways. One eye can still be seen when they do this.

Marsh terrapins have webbed hind feet. Males grow bigger than females (up to 325mm or 13in) and have longer tails and flatter shells. The males’ shells are turned upwards at the edges towards the back legs.

These terrapins are found in a variety of freshwater environments and can remain buried in mud or soil during dry periods.

They eat insects, fish, tadpoles, crabs, frogs, birds, carrion and vegetable matter.

In courtship, the male rubs his chin tentacles on the back of the female’s head, while water flows from his nostrils onto her face. When mating, the male hooks his claws over the edge of the female’s shell.  Females dig holes in soft soil in which to lay their soft-shelled eggs. Juveniles have a lengthwise ridge along their shells.

When disturbed, the animals produce an unpleasant-smelling substance from musk glands.

Watch a marsh terrapin from the Blyde Canyon, South Africa, in the Earth-Touch clip, Rain entices terrapin out and several of the creatures at a waterhole in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in the clip Muddy movement turns out to be terrapins.

Images © Earth-Touch 2008

Alexander G & Marais J 2007, A guide to the reptiles of Southern Africa, Struik Publishers, Cape Town.

Branch B 2008, Tortoises, terrapins and turtles of Africa, Struik Publishers, Cape Town.