Natal hinge-back tortoise

Natal hinge-back tortoise
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Kinixys
Species:	K. natalensis
Binomial name
Kinixys natalensis Hewitt, 1935
Synonyms[2]
Kinixys natalensis Hewitt, 1935 Kinixys belliana natalensis Mertens & Wermuth, 1955

The Natal hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys natalensis), also known as Natal hinge-backed tortoise or Natal hinged tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the Testudinidae family which is restricted to eastern southern Africa to a relatively small area around the borders of Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland.

Description

The Natal hinge-back tortoise is one of the smallest of the hinged tortoises. It has an elongated carapace up to 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length which is slightly domed with a flat dorsal surface, although averaging between 8 and 14 cm (3.1 and 5.5 in) in length. Its hinge, on the underside of its shell, is also poorly developed compared to its relatives, being restricted to the marginals. This rudimentary hinge only develops later, and is absent in juveniles. The small tail terminates in a distinctive spike. It has a brown to yellow head is small to large with a non-projecting snout. The scutes on its relatively elongated shell usually have concentric dark and light rings. Females are larger than males and usually more boldly marked. Unlike the other hinged tortoises, the males do not have a concave belly.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

This rare tortoise is naturally found in the area around the far eastern border of South Africa. It occurs mainly in the province of Kwazulu-Natal but also in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as in the neighbouring countries of Swaziland and border of Mozambique.^[3]

In its natural habitat, it inhabits rocky, thornveld and bushveld at 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft) elevation.^[3] They eat mainly plant material but will eat insects and other small invertebrates if given the chance.^[4]

Threats and conservation

This tortoise is rare and considered near-threatened. and it is listed on CITES Appendix II.^[1]

References

Sources

• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Kinixys natalensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.

Tortoise family of turtles (Testudinidae)
Genus	Species of the tortoise family
Aldabrachelys	Aldabra giant tortoise
Astrochelys	Angonoka tortoise Radiated tortoise
Chelonoidis	Yellow-footed tortoise Chaco tortoise Galápagos tortoise Red-footed tortoise
Chersina	Angulate tortoise
Centrochelys	African spurred tortoise
Cylindraspis†	Domed Mauritius giant tortoise† Domed Rodrigues giant tortoise† Réunion giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Mauritius giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoise†
Geochelone	Burmese star tortoise Indian star tortoise
Gopherus	Bolson tortoise Desert tortoise Gopher tortoise Sonoran Desert tortoise Texas tortoise
Homopus	Common padloper Nama padloper Karoo padloper Greater padloper Speckled padloper
Indotestudo	Elongated tortoise Forsten's tortoise Travancore tortoise
Kinixys	Bell's hinge-back tortoise Forest hinge-back tortoise Home's hinge-back tortoise Lobatse hinge-back tortoise Natal hinge-back tortoise Speke's hinge-back tortoise
Malacochersus	Pancake tortoise
Manouria	Asian forest tortoise Impressed tortoise
Psammobates	Geometric tortoise Serrated tortoise Tent tortoise
Pyxis	Flat-backed spider tortoise Spider tortoise
Stigmochelys	Leopard tortoise
Testudo	Hermann's tortoise Kleinmann's tortoise Marginated tortoise Russian tortoise Spur-thighed tortoise
Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Key: †=extinct.