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Project Noah Nature School
Kinixys natalensis
This tortoise is rare and considered near-threatened. It inhabits a narrow range, and is in decline due to habitat destruction and collecting - for food and for the pet trade. It is one of the smallest of the Hinged Tortoises, averaging between 8 and 14 cm in length. This one is still not adult. Its hinge, on the underside of its shell, is also poorly developed compared to its relatives, being restricted to the marginals. Females are larger than males and usually more boldly marked. Unlike the other hinged tortoises, the males do not have a concave belly. Credited to Tina.
savanna/woodland, a few hundred meters from a small river.
Seen on the path from Waterfall Cave
thanks Kate for your work in ID-ing this tortoise. Nice to find a rare-ish tortoise in the area.
ID confirmed - this is a young Natal Hinged Tortoise (Kinixys
natalensis), confirmed by its tricuspid beak and the gular scutes (scales at the front) are more than twice as wide as they are deep (long).
Because of the small size, there's a possibility that this could be the Natal Hinge-backed Tortoise - more info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natal_hinge...
It also apparently has an upper jaw with a tricuspid beak.
We would need a reptile expert to confirm this though.
Spotted on Mar 29, 2014
Submitted on Apr 2, 2014
