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List Of Reptiles Of Ghana
This is a list of the reptile species recorded in Ghana. There are 154 reptile species in Ghana, of which one is critically endangered, one is endangered, two are vulnerable and two are near threatened. This list is derived from the Reptile Database which lists species of reptile and includes those reptiles that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those currently used by the Reptile Database as of 20 September 2011 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Reptile Database article was available. The following tags are used to highlight specific species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN: Order: Testudines (turtles) *Family: Testudinidae (tortoises) **Genus: ''Kinixys'' *** Bell's hinge-back tortoise, ''Kinixys belliana'' *** Eroded hinge-back tortoise, '' Kinixys erosa'' *** Home's hinge-back tortoise, ''Kinixys homeana'' VU *Family: Cheloniidae (sea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east.Jackson, John G. (2001) ''Introduction to African Civilizations'', Citadel Press, p. 201, . Ghana covers an area of , spanning diverse biomes that range from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With nearly 31 million inhabitants (according to 2021 census), Ghana is the List of African countries by population, second-most populous country in West Africa, after Nigeria. The capital and List of cities in Ghana, largest city is Accra; other major cities are Kumasi, Tamale, Ghana, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi. The first permanent state in present-day Ghana was the Bono state of the 11th century. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged over the centuries, of which the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dermochelys
The leatherback sea turtle (''Dermochelys coriacea''), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to and weights of . It is the only living species in the genus ''Dermochelys'' and family Dermochelyidae. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell; instead, its carapace is covered by oily flesh and flexible, leather-like skin, for which it is named. Taxonomy and evolution Taxonomy ''Dermochelys coriacea'' is the only species in genus ''Dermochelys''. The genus, in turn, contains the only extant member of the family Dermochelyidae. Domenico Agostino Vandelli named the species first in 1761 as ''Testudo coriacea'' after an animal captured at Ostia and donated to the University of Padua by Pope Clement XIII. In 1816, French zoologist Henri Blainville coined the term ''Dermochelys''. The leatherback ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Agamidae
Agamidae is a family (biology), family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Overview phylogenetics, Phylogenetically, they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have well-developed, strong legs. Their tails cannot be shed and regenerated like those of geckos (and several other families such as skinks), though a certain amount of regeneration is observed in some. Many agamid species are capable of limited change of their colours to regulate their body temperature. In some species, males are more brightly coloured than females, and colours play a part in signaling and reproductive behaviours. Although agamids generally inhabit warm environments, ranging from hot deserts to tropical rainforests, at least one species, the mountain dragon, is found in cooler regions. They are particularly diverse in Australia. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Squamata
Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, it is also the second-largest order of extant (living) vertebrates, after the perciform fish. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields, and must periodically engage in molting. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making possible movement of the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able to open their mouths very wide to accommodate comparatively large prey. Squamata is the most variably sized order of reptiles, ranging from the dwarf gecko (''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'') to the Reticulated python (''Malayopython reticulatus'') and the now-extinct mosasaurs, which reached lengths over . Among other reptiles, squamates are most close ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyclanorbis Senegalensis
The Senegal flapshell turtle (''Cyclanorbis senegalensis'') is a species of turtle in the subfamily Cyclanorbinae of the family Trionychidae. The species, which is one of two species of softshell turtles in the genus ''Cyclanorbis'', is endemic to Africa. Geographic range ''C. senegalensis'' is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Togo. Habitat The preferred natural habitats of ''C. senegalensis'' are freshwater wetlands and savanna. Description ''C. senegalensis'' may attain a straight-line carapace length of . The head is olive, with numerous white dots. The carapace is olive, either uniform or with small dark blotches. Hatchlings have longitudinal rows of small tubercles on the carapace. The plastron is yellowish, clouded with brown. The plastral callosities are finely granular. Boulenger ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyclanorbis Elegans
The Nubian flapshell turtle or Nubian soft-shelled turtle (''Cyclanorbis elegans'') is one of two species of softshell turtle in the genus ''Cyclanorbis'' of the Trionychidae family. It is thought to have ranged from West Africa east through Central Africa to South Sudan, although it has been extirpated from the vast majority of its range. Distribution It has historically been found in a wide range spanning Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo. However, it has been very rarely recorded during the last 50 years and there is little hope that the species is extant in West Africa. In 2017, a remnant population was found in the White Nile wetlands in South Sudan by Prof. Luca Luiselli and his team; this discovery was publicized in a 2019 paper. In 2021, another population was found along the White Nile wetlands in northern Uganda, near the border with South Sudan; the species was not previously recorded in this area. Descrip ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyclanorbis
''Cyclanorbis'' is a genus of softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Description In the genus ''Cyclanorbis'' the plastron has cutaneous flaps, under which the hind legs can be concealed. Species The genus ''Cyclanorbis'' contains the following extant species: * Nubian flapshell turtle – ''Cyclanorbis elegans'' * Senegal flapshell turtle – ''Cyclanorbis senegalensis'' One extinct species is also known from fossil remains: '' Cyclanorbis turkanensis'' , from the Pliocene of Kenya. ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ... in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Cyclanorbis''. References Bibliography * * Further reading * Gray JE (1854) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trionychidae
The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles. The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish areas. Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America, with extinct species known from Australia. Most species have traditionally been included in the genus ''Trionyx'', but the vast majority have since been moved to other genera. Among these are the North American ''Apalone'' softshells that were placed in ''Trionyx'' until 1987. Characteristics They are called "softshell" because their carapaces lack horny scutes (scales), though the spiny softshell, ''Apalone spinifera'', does have some scale-like projections, hence its name. The carapace is leathery and pliable, particularly at the sides. The central part of the carapace has a layer of solid bone beneath it, as in other turtles, but t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelusios Niger
The West African black turtle (''Pelusios niger'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa, in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ..., Gabon, and Nigeria. References Bibliography * * West African black turtle Reptiles of Cameroon Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea Reptiles of Gabon Reptiles of Nigeria Reptiles of West Africa West African black turtle Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril Taxa named by Gabriel Bibron {{turtle-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelusios Gabonensis
The African forest turtle (''Pelusios gabonensis'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa, where it can be found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda Description The African forest turtle is a side-necked turtle; unable to fully withdraw their heads into their shells, they draw them to the side and fold them beneath the upper edge of their shells. This species is characterized by a flattened, brown carapace A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ... with a black dorsal line. The plastron hinge is located in rear position. References Bibliography * * African forest turtle Reptiles of Central Africa Re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelusios Cupulatta
The Ivory Coast mud turtle (''Pelusios cupulatta'') is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is one of the most recently described turtle species. The Pelusios cupulatta is typically found in riverine and wetland habitats mainly located in the southern Ivory Coast of West Africa. Endemic to the Upper Guinean forest region such as wetlands/rivers they are usually found primarily in forested banks as well as aquatic vegetation. Compared to other counterparts within its family, P. Cupulatta prefers an abundance of aquatic vegetation as its primary habitat. Despite this, Pelusios castaneus is a potential competitor due to similar habitats albeit different preferences regarding specific locations. Interspecific competition is able to regulate the coexistence of potential competitors but also niche expansion is available within the family when alone. Comparative to other species at a local spatial level, Pelusios niger and Pelusios cupulatta both belong to la ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pelusios
''Pelusios'' is a genus of African side-necked turtles. With 17 described species, it is one of the most diverse genera of the turtle order (Testudines). Etymology The Latin name ''Pelusios'' means "mud" or "clay", and this is reflected by the turtles habitually burying themselves to find refuge and food. Common names Common names for the genus ''Pelusios'' include hinged terrapins, African mud turtles, and mud terrapins. Taxonomy Several species have been described, with probably numerous undescribed species. The Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of the genus is very confused, as these species show many local variations. Certain species, in isolated areas or with reduced populations, need to be observed as they face a distinct extinction possibility given the significant number collected by native people. Geographic range They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles islands. They have also been introduced on the islands of the Lesser A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
