helmeted terrapin, tortoises of kenya

Pelomedusa Subrufa

The African helmeted turtle, also known as the Marsh Terrapin, is a small turtle (6 to 7 inches as an adult) with an olive-green or brown carapace (shell). The tops of the tail and limbs are a grayish brown, while the underside is yellowish. The male turtle is distinguished by its long, thick tail. Females tend to have a shorter tail and a broader carapace. Hatchlings have a shell size of about 1 and 1/4 inches in length, and are olive to black in color. It also has two small tubercles under the chin and musk glands in the sides of the carapace. The African helmeted turtles posses a hinged plastron (lower shell) which they can, using muscles, close to cover their head and front limbs.