Helmeted Turtle

Pelomedusa subrufa

Silhouette: Day & Haghe · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassTestudines
FamilyPelomedusidae (African Mud Turtles)
GenusPelomedusa (Helmeted Terrapins)
SpeciesPelomedusa subrufa (Helmeted Turtle)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Murchison Falls National Park

2 Verified sightings at Murchison Falls National Park From 2019 to 2026

186 Verified sightings across all 24 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Helmeted Turtle

The African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa), also commonly known as the marsh terrapin, the crocodile turtle, or in the pet trade as the African side-necked turtle, is a species of omnivorous side-necked terrapin in the family Pelomedusidae. The species naturally occurs in fresh and stagnant water bodies throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and in southern Yemen.

The marsh terrapin is typically a rather small turtle, with most individuals being less than 20 cm (7.9 in) ranging from 15 to 21 centimeters in straight carapace length, but one has been recorded with a length of 32.5 cm (12.8 in). It has a black or brown carapace. The top of the tail and feet are a grayish brown, while the underside (plastron) is yellowish.

The male turtle is distinguished by its long, thick tail. A female tends to have a shorter tail and a broader carapace. A hatchling has a shell size of about 3 cm (1.2 in) in length, and is olive to black in color. It also has two small tubercles under the chin and musk glands in the sides of the carapace.

Uniquely, the genus Pelomedusa does not have a hinged plastron (lower shell). All the other species in the family Pelomedusidae, however, do... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park

Pelomedusa neumanni

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~40%
2	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
3	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
4	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
5	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
6	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
7	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
8	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
9	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
10	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
11	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	Insufficient data
12	Ankarafantsika National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	Insufficient data
13	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
14	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
15	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
16	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
17	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
18	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
19	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
20	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
21	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	Insufficient data
22	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
23	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
24	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

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