Tortoise or Turtle

[Darral13]

Hi the gardener dug this guy up and I am not sure if Turtle or Tortoise

 

[Darral13]

Hi guys hope you can help me. I have 7 leapord tortoises. The gardener at the Church dug up a tortoise or a Turtle not sure can you guys help please

 

[Steph#26]

Hey im new but thats a turtle possibly a sideneck turtle not 100% on speciese hopfully somone can help with advise

 

[The Tortoise Tree]

Definitely a turtle, but I can not give you a certain species, I am not one with the turtles.

 

[Darral13]

Thank you not sure how it got to Church as there is no pond or water for it to survive

 

[Yvonne G]

It's a side neck water turtle.

 

[Darral13]

Thank you so much Yvonne

 

[turtlesailor]

African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa.

 

[zovick]

Thank you not sure how it got to Church as there is no pond or water for it to survive

It appears to have a painted marking on its back which may indicate that it could have been a pet which escaped from its owner.

 

[Darral13]

It appears to have a painted marking on its back which may indicate that it could have been a pet which escaped from its owner.

Hi no gardener at Church hurt it with fork I cleaned it with iodine and put some antiseptic ointment on. From a Gauteng have no idea how it got into the churches pray garden

 

[turtlesailor]

Might be a female looking for a perfect spot to lay some eggs.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

African mud turtles (there are different species) can dig in and go dormant during long dry periods of time. They appreciate water when it's available.

 

[Hutsie B]

definitely a water turtle. I agree with the Sideneck.

 

[Yorkiemomma]

Hey im new but thats a turtle possibly a sideneck turtle not 100% on speciese hopfully somone can help with advise

Certainly looks like a sulfate to me tortoise

 

[Yorkiemomma]

Certainly looks like a sulfate to me tortoise

Sorry sulcata

 

[Yorkiemomma]

It's a side neck water turtle.

You put that guy in the water he will drown.

 

[Calaveras]

African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa.

This is the correct answer. It is a water turtle from Africa. Speculating if you are not certain can confuse the person trying to help this turtle who happens to live in South Africa.
It is a turtle that would have come out in the rain, but was disturbed. If there is a pond or stream nearby you could take it there.
They are very common where you live and are kept as pets around the world. You may find that a school science teacher may want to keep it for the class pet if they do such things in your area.
If you decide to keep it, we can guide you to care instructions.

 

[Yvonne G]

You put that guy in the water he will drown.

Sorry @Yorkiemomma wrong answer. No prize for you today! ?

 

[William Lee Kohler]

One EASY identifier there are NO sideneck tortoises. Definitely a water turtle.

 

[Markw84]

I will chime in to add weight to @turtlesailor and @Calaveras answer just to let you know they are not guessing, but indeed know what it is. That is definitely an African Helmeted Turtle - Pelomedusa subrufa