Pelomedusidae

Taxobox
name = Pelomedusidae
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Pleurodira
familia = Pelomedusidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Pelomedusa"
"Pelusios"

Pelomedusidae is a family of freshwater turtles, native to eastern and southern Africa. They range in size from convert|12|cm|in to convert|45|cm|in in shell length, and are generally roundish in shape. They are unable to fully withdraw their heads into their shells, instead drawing it to the side and folding it beneath the upper edge of the shell. The family is distinguished from its closest relatives by a hinge in the front section of the plastroncite book |editor=Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.|author= Obst, Fritz Jurgen|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 112-113|isbn= 0-12-178560-2] .

They spend most of their time in the mud at the bottom of rivers or shallow lakes, where they eat invertebrates such as insects, molluscs, and worms. Many species aestivate through the dry season, burying themselves in the mud.

List of genera

The related Podocnemididae family has been considered as a subfamily (Podocnemidinae), and some authors maintain this classification.

Suborder Pleurodira
* Family Chelidae
* Family Podocnemididae
* Family PELOMEDUSIDAE
** Genus "Pelomedusa" (Helmeted turtles)
** Genus "Pelusios" (African mud turtles)

References

External links

* [http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/families/Pelomedusidae.html Pelomedusidae family on reptile-database.org]