Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Afrikaans name: Skulprand-skarnierwaterskilpad

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Photo © Steven Herbert

Pelusios sinuatus

The Serrated Hinged Terrapin is called the East Africa Serrated Mud Turtle further up Africa. It is found from northern KwaZulu-Natal to East Africa.

It can grow to a size of over 50 cm with females being a big bigger than males. Males have a longer tail. When threatened by a predator they give off a foul odour.

The Serrated Hinged Terrapin eats a variety of food including freshwater mussels and snails, ticks, frogs and they have also been known to feed off animal carcasses. They are preyed upon by Nile Crocodiles.

Females lay up to 25 or so eggs in a hole within a few hundred metres of the water.

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 254

The South African Tortoise Book - Author: RC Boycott and O Bourquin - Published: 1988 - Page: 65

Tortoises, Terrapins & Turtles of Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Published: 2008 - Page: 100

The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar, WD Haacke and NHG Jacobsen - Published: 1983 - Page: 28

Reptiles & Amphibians of Southern Africa - Author: Warren Schmidt - Published: 2006 - Page: 84

Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Rod Patterson and Anothony Bannister - Published: 1987 - Page: 17

Getaway Guide to the Kruger National Park - Author: Cameron Ewart-Smith - Published: 2005 - Page: 211

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 407

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 192

A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Graham Alexander and Johan Marais - Published: 2007 - Page: 363

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 64

Bill Branch s Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Published: 1988 - Page: 40

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 116

The Reptile Database

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