Speke's hinge-back tortoise (''Kinixys spekii''), also known commonly as Speke's hingeback tortoise, is a species of turtle in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Africa.

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

, ''spekii'', is in honor of English explorer John Hanning Speke.

Description

''K. spekii'' has an elongated

carapace A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...

, up to in straight length, which is distinctly flattened, allowing it to seek refuge in rock crevices and under logs (the co-occurring

pancake tortoise The pancake tortoise (''Malacochersus tornieri'') is a species of flat-shelled tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to Tanzania and Kenya. Its common name refers to the flat shape of its shell. Etymology Both the specific ...

is even more flattened). Its carapace has a weak, disrupted medial keel, and posterior marginals that are neither strongly serrated nor reverted. This species has a well-developed hinge at the rear end of the upper part of its shell, permitting the protection of its rear legs after they have been retracted.nlbif.eti.uva.nl
. The male has a notably longer tail than the female of this species, and the tails end in a spine. Females possess a flat plastron, yet males have a more concave one.Tabaka, Chris, DVM (2003). "Differentiating Male and Female ''Kinixys spekii'' (Speck's ichingeback tortoise)". World Chelonian Trust
Chelonia.org
/ref>

Geographic range

Speke's hinge-back tortoise is found in

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

from Uganda and Kenya south to

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

, next to Mozambique and Zululand. Its range extends westwards as far as the coast of Angola. www.reptile-database.org.

Habitat

''K. spekii'' inhabits

savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...

s and dry bush with rocky areas. It tends to inhabit more wooded areas during the dry season, and to move out into the savannahs when the summer rains come.

Diet

''K. spekii'' feeds on small flowers, leaves, grass, herbs, succulents and fungi. It also eats snails and other small invertebrates, having a special preference for millipedes.

Reproduction

Females of ''K. spekii'' lay a small

clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...

of two to four eggs in the summer.

References

External links

Photo of ''Kinixys spekii''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2192332 Kinixys Reptiles described in 1863 Taxa named by John Edward Gray