On the Occurrence of Pelusios gabonensis in the Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

Many species of terrestrial and freshwater chelonians are at risk of extinction, particularly rainforest species due to massive habitat loss. Therefore, the presence of peripheral and isolated populations can have considerable conservation value. This article confirms the presence of Pelusios gabonensis in an area of mature forest in western Côte d'Ivoire for which fragmentary data existed in the literature. It would therefore be important to study the conservation status and the genetics of the Ivorian populations given their huge geographic distance with conspecifics from the Lower Guinean forests.