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Hinge-back tortoise

Kinixys sp

Notes:

I think this might be a Natal hinged tortoise but if someone could confirm, that would be great!

2 Species ID Suggestions

C.Sydes
C.Sydes 12 years ago
Hinge-back tortoise
Kinixys sp 404 Not Found
KateBraun
KateBraun 10 years ago
Speke's or Savanna Hinged Tortoise
Kinixys spekii Swaziland's Reptiles Database


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5 Comments

KateBraun
KateBraun 10 years ago

How big was it? The Natal hinged tortoise is usually smaller.

C.Sydes
C.Sydes 12 years ago

I haven't got my books with me just now but I would think the 2 flat ones are possibly both Pelusios sinuatus - the serrated hinged Terrapin but I'm not sure what other terrapins there are in RSA with those big plates. The tortoise may well be the mountain tortoise - Geochelone pardalis again I'm not familiar with the whole range of potential candidates.

RachaelB
RachaelB 12 years ago

Thanks for the ID! I have a couple more tortoise shots which I believe are different that I will put up soon.

C.Sydes
C.Sydes 12 years ago

definitely a hinge-back tortoise, genus Kinixys, but there seems to be some controversy among the taxonomists as to how many species there should be; there seems to be a choice of 2 or 3 for southern africa.

Came across an interesting fact relating to hinge-backs, they are omniverous munching insects such as slugs and ,millipedes in addition to the normal vegetarian diet of other tortoises

RachaelB
Spotted by
RachaelB

Sifundza seHhohho, Swaziland

Spotted on Jan 1, 2012
Submitted on Feb 5, 2012

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