New Terrapin Species/Sub-Species discovered.

[Folarin Kolawole]

Attachments :Ter6.jpgTer5.jpgTer4.jpgTer3.jpgTer2.jpgI once made some posts to this group about some terrapin turtles I found subsisting in a rock pool on a granitic hill (really unusual and harsh habitat). Someone mailed me and requested that I post photos to the group which I did (but the photo of the terrapin I had then want good enough, only had digital photos of the rock pool). I went to the site again recently and while making tedious efforts to capture at least one of the turtles (they’re so elusive in water). I noticed that there were just two turtles left in the pool….a pool that had a population of about 10-15 turtles when I first discovered the habitat in 2003. This shows how endangered they are. I decided to keep the two turtles in a make-shift aquarium in my house so I that I can keep a closer watch on them. The big picture is to get to turn their endangered habitat into a terrapin conservation center in the future. But for now, it will be greatly appreciated if anyone in the group can help make comparisons with DBTs to see if these terrapins here have any similar behaviors or adaptations with them. Please find attached recent photos of the turtles. All ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thanks. Yours, Folarin Kolawole, Naijatreks Foundation, http://www.naijatreks.com “Only in the minds of some select group of thinkers does a universe begin to divulge its secrets”.

[Susan Gorick]

I am not a turtle expert but that appears to be a sidenecked turtle, not a terrapin in the pictures. In addition to my DBT I also have a pink belly sideneck turtle (from Australia) that looks similar to the one in your pictures except for coloration. You asked for comparisons to our DBTs so I can tell you that sideneck turtles tend to be very shy and DBTs tend to be very outgoing and friendly. I have included a picture of both turtles, compare the faces and colors. They are very different. But I love them both!Good luck with your project!Susie Shelly- my pink belly sideneck turtle Chester- my DBT On Apr 20, 2011, at 5:19 PM, Folarin Kolawole wrote:

[Susan Gorick]

O.K., I just looked it up and what you have are African Sidenecked turtles. Below is what I found about their natural habitat. It sounds like what you described where your turtles were living.Natural HabitatAfrican side-neck turtles are widely distributed throughout mainland Africa, the Seychelles Islands and Madagascar. They can be found in dry and moist savannas and semi-desert in all sorts of stagnant or slow-moving smaller water bodies. They are rarely found in very large rivers or lakes, presumably due to the prevalence of predators. They are very aquatic and will often bask floating in the water. Hope that info helps.SusieOn Apr 20, 2011, at 10:22 PM, Susan Gorick wrote:

[Folarin Kolawole]

Thanks for your comments Susie. They have been very helpful and I also think I am getting more clues on the nature of the turtles I found. They are very very shy and that’s soo fascinating. Talking about Terrapins, I was of the thinking that all fresh water turtle species are called terrapin turtles. So, if I may ask, is your Side-Necked Turtle (from Australia) from a fresh water or salt water habitat? If you have more info on the egg-laying and breeding behaviours of the African Side-necked turtle, I won’t mind you posting them to me, because it’s highly important here considering the high rate of depletion of their population. Yours, Folarin Kolawole, Naijatreks Foundation, http://www.naijatreks.com “Only in the minds of some select group of thinkers does a universe begin to divulge its secrets”. —–Original Message—– From: Susan Gorick Sent: 04/21/2011 3:36:17 AM Subject: Re: [diamondbackterrapins] New Terrapin Species/Sub-Species discovered. O.K., I just looked it up and what you have are African Sidenecked turtles. Below is what I found about their natural habitat. It sounds like what you described where your turtles were living. Natural Habitat African side-neck turtles are widely distributed throughout mainland Africa, the Seychelles Islands and Madagascar. They can be found in dry and moist savannas and semi-desert in all sorts of stagnant or slow-moving smaller water bodies. They are rarely found in very large rivers or lakes, presumably due to the prevalence of predators. They are very aquatic and will often bask floating in the water. Hope that info helps. Susie

[rmbion]

Hi,Folarian, I had two subniger African side-necked turtles several years ago, and they both looked very similar to yours. Can’t say which subspecies, but they are definitely Pelusios genus. Best regards, Dick

[folarin kolawole]

Hi Dick,Thanks for the comment. I will appreciate it if you can post pictures of your Subniger African side-necked turtles (if you have photos of them). Thanks.From: rmbion

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