Serrated Hinged Terrapin
Serrated Hinged TerrapinSerrated Hinged TerrapinSerrated Hinged TerrapinSerrated Hinged Terrapin

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Pelusios sinuatus

Silhouette: Day & Haghe · PhyloPic

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Meru National Park
4 Verified sightings at Meru National Park From 2019 to 2026
794 Verified sightings across all 19 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Serrated Hinged Terrapin

The serrated hinged terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus) is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is native to East Africa and Southern Africa. There are two recognised subspecies. P. sinuatus is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The preferred natural habitats of P. sinuatus are tropical lakes and rivers, where it can often be seen basking on logs, rocks, or mud banks, or even on the backs of sleeping hippopotami. P. sinuatus eats water snails, soft-weed, and insects.

The largest species in the genus Pelusios, P. sinuatus has a straight carapace length of up to 55 cm (22 in). Females are larger than males. Males can also be distinguished by their slightly longer tails. For defence, the hinged plastron of P. sinuatus closes to protect the head and forelimbs. The serrated hinged terrapin also secretes a foul odour when threatened.

The female serrated hinged terrapin lays seven to 25 eggs, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) from the nearest water... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
2 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
3 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
4 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
5 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
6 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
7 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
8 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
9 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
10 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
11 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
12 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
13 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
14 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
15 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
16 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
17 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
18 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
19 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
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