Genus Kinixys
Africa is home to 6 species of Hinged Tortoise, four of which are found in South Africa. These tortoises are unique in that their carapace has a hinge that allows the rear of their shell to close around their back legs and tail when retracted.
Perhaps surprisingly for tortoises, they are omnivorous and include a wide variety of vegetation and invertebrates, including snails and millipedes, and even tadpoles, in their diet.
Females lay small clutches of around 2-10 eggs, usually at the end of summer, with the hatchlings emerging in early spring.
All species are exploited by collection from the wild as food and for the international pet trade, while two species endemic to southern Africa further has to contend with habitat destruction throughout their limited distribution.
Bell’s Hinged Tortoise (K. belliana)
Bell’s Hinged Tortoise inhabits moist habitats ranging from savannas to dune forest, and in South Africa is restricted to the north of Kwazulu-Natal, though they occur much more widely in suitable habitat through the rest of the continent. Adults grow to about 22cm in length.
Lobatse Hinged Tortoise (K. lobatsiana)
The Lobatse Hinged Tortoise is found in South Africa’s Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces, as well as in a small portion of bordering Botswana. It inhabits rocky outcrops and hills in dry, thorny savannas and the IUCN considers it to be vulnerable, owing to a declining population size brought on by habitat pressure and harvesting. Adults grow to 20cm in length.
Natal Hinged Tortoise (K. natalensis)
The smallest of South Africa’s Hinged Tortoises, the Natal Hinged Tortoise grows to only about 15cm in length. It inhabits rocky savanna habitat and, with a limited distribution in the provinces of Kwazulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, the IUCN considers to be vulnerable due to threats to its habitat and collection from the wild.
Natal Hinged Tortoise
Speke’s Hinged Tortoise (K. spekii)
Adult Speke’s Hinged Tortoises measure about 18cm in length. Their flattened carapaces allow them to hide in crevices or under logs when they aestivate during our cool and dry winters. This species too inhabits savanna habitats and, in South Africa, is found in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Speke’s Hinged Tortoise
I liked your photo of the Natal hinged tortoise. Great lighting!
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You’re very kind, thank you Siobhan.
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Interesting to see these species in the same post so to be able compare then to each other. I really love seeing tortoises in the wild. It is so sad that wild tortoises are caught for the pet trade – even more so as the mortality rate in the trade is so high. Much better to leave them free.
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I agree wholeheartedly, Carol. It is the case with most animals caught in the wild for the pet trade; only a very small fraction of them ever make it to “good homes”. And if people really loved those animals, they’d know the only “good home” for them is in their wild abodes.
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So true what you say.
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Baie interessant Dries! Lyk beslis nie soos die soort wat hier by ons voorkom nie!. Het lanklaas een in my tuin gehad!
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Ons land het n ryke verskeidenheid skilpaaie, Aletta, en dis jammer dat so baie van hulle bedreig word. Selfs die wat voorheen volop was raak skaarser
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Ja, dis baie hartseer
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Interesting post, Dries. Their markings are so beautiful and unique and the hinge is fascinating. Sad that they are exploited. Great post.
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Indeed a sad state of affairs, Jane, and not one that gets much attention as tortoises are not as “glamorous” as some other kinds of endangered species.
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This is a beautiful tortoise, the patterns on it’s shell are very interesting. Fist time I’ve seen this tortoise. Very nice post, D. 🙂
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Thanks, H.J. They really are a fascinating family!
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Such beautiful markings in the shells. Of course that’s part of what causes problems for them, as people want to have them. 🙁
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Aren’t we humans just so strange, Janet. If something is beautiful, we want to keep it all to ourselves, even if it kills that thing of beauty.
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Yet again you’ve taught me something about wildlife, in this case the hinge on the shell of some species of tortoise. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
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Glad to be of service, John – especially to nature lovers like yourself who has an appreciation for interesting facts about beautiful creatures!
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An interesting insight to the fascinating world of tortoises.
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Thank you, Anne. They’re such ancient animals and, as you say, definitely fascinating.
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Interressante dier waarvan ek nie veel weet nie omdat daar nooit eintlik wildes rond was waar ek gebly het nie.
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Hierdie spesifieke skilpaaie is baie skaarser as die bergskilpad waarmee ons almal bekend is, Ineke.
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Dankie vir die verduidelik. Dan is dit beslis besonderse fotos wat jul geneem het. Eintlik waardevolle fotos.
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Somehow a snapping turtle found its way into our backyard a few years ago. My husband went to pick it up to carry it to the woods across the street. Darn near bit his fingers off! Gave me a whole new appreciation for turtles/tortoise. Shame about the declining population in this one. People collecting them for pet trade and/or food…..grrr-rrrrr.
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I wish I could command an army of snapping turtles to sort out people collecting others like these for pets!
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Now that’s a great idea!!
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