Williams' mud turtle (''Pelusios williamsi'') is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
turtle
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked tu ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Pelomedusidae
:''Alternatively, "Pelomedusidae" may refer to the Pelomedusoidea. See below for details.''
Pelomedusidae is a family of freshwater turtles endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, São Tomé, and the Seychelles(Although this pop. m ...
. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''williamsi'', is in honor of American herpetologist
Ernest E. Williams.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Pelusios williamsi'', p. 286).]
Geographic range
''Pelusios williamsi'' is found in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
,
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
, and
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
.
Subspecies
*''P. w. williamsi'' - Lake Victoria mud turtle
*''P. w. laurenti'' - Ukerewe Island mud turtle
*''P. w. lutescens'' - Albert Nile mud turtle
References
Bibliography
*
*
Further reading
*
Bour R (1984). "''Note sur'' Pelusios williamsi ''Laurent, 1965 (Chelonii, Pelomedusinae)'' ". ''Revue Française d'Aquariologie'' 11: 27–32. (''Pelusios williamsi laurenti'', new subspecies). (in French).
*
Laurent RF (1965). "A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Genus ''Pelusios'' (Wagler)". ''Annales de Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences Zoologiques'', Tervuren, Belgium, Eighth Series (135): 1-33. (''Pelusios williamsi'', new species, p. 12; ''P. w. lutescens'', new subspecies, p. 16).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2197483
Williams' mud turtle
Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Reptiles of Kenya
Reptiles of Tanzania
Reptiles of Uganda
Williams' mud turtle