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Emydidae (Latin emys (freshwater tortoise) + Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos, “appearance, resemblance”)) is a family of testudines (turtles) that includes close to 50 species in 12 extant genera. [3] [4] Members of this family are commonly called terrapins, pond turtles, or marsh turtles. [1]
African spurred tortoise or Sulcata tortoise: Centrochelys sulcata: southern edge of the Sahara Desert: Third largest species of tortoise in the world; the largest non-island species. [1] African helmeted turtle Marsh terrapin: Pelomedusa subrufa: Very wide range Aldabra giant tortoise: Aldabrachelys gigantea: Seychelles Angonoka tortoise ...
Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit and may not be closely related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae. The name "terrapin" is derived from torope, a word in an Algonquian language [1] that referred to the species Malaclemys terrapin (the Diamondback terrapin). It appears that the term became part of common usage during the ...
In the UK, tortoises are land-dwellers, while turtles and terrapins are aquatic (terrapins are slightly fonder of the land than turtles). But in the US, turtle covers all three.
The African helmeted turtle is an omnivorous eater and will eat almost anything mainly involving aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and vegetation. [7] It may feed on carrion. The fine claws on its feet help it tear its prey apart. Hatchlings will eat tadpoles of many frog species, including Phrynomantis microps. [8]
The so-called Seychelles black terrapin, Seychelles mud turtle, or Seychelles terrapin was considered a species of turtle (Pelusios seychellensis) in the family Pelomedusidae, endemic to Seychelles. [4] Genetic analysis of the lectotype has shown, however, that this turtle was never a separate species, and is in fact Pelusios castaneus. [4]
Myobatrachus is a genus of frogs found in Western Australia. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Myobatrachus gouldii, also known as the turtle frog. It gets its name from the resemblance to a shell-less chelonian, which is a type of turtle. It is described to have an extremely small narrow head, short limbs, and a round body.
The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), also called commonly the European pond terrapin and the European pond tortoise, is a species of long-living freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. [3] The species is endemic to the Western Palearctic .