The Natal hinge-back tortoise (''Kinixys natalensis''), also known as Natal hinge-backed tortoise or Natal hinged tortoise, is a species of

tortoise Tortoises ( ) are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for "tortoise"). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like o ...

in the family

Testudinidae Tortoises ( ) are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for "tortoise"). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like ot ...

which is restricted to eastern southern Africa to a relatively small area around the borders of

Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, and

Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where i ...

Description

The Natal hinge-back tortoise is one of the smallest of the hinged tortoises. It has an elongated carapace up to in length which is slightly domed with a flat dorsal surface, although averaging between 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.

Distribution and habitat

This rare tortoise is naturally found in the area around the far eastern border of

. It occurs mainly in the province of

Kwazulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...

but also in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as in the neighbouring countries of

and border of

. In its natural habitat, it inhabits rocky, thornveld and bushveld at elevation. They eat mainly plant material but will eat insects and other small invertebrates if given the chance.

Threats and conservation

This tortoise is rare and considered " vulnerable". It is listed on

CITES Appendix II CITES (shorter acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of inte ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q305966 Kinixys Turtles of Africa Reptiles of Eswatini Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles of South Africa Reptiles described in 1935 Taxa named by John Hewitt (herpetologist) Taxonomy articles created by Polbot