Home's hinge-back tortoise
Home's hinge-back tortoise | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Family: | Testudinidae |
Genus: | Kinixys |
Species: | K. homeana |
Binomial name | |
Kinixys homeana Bell, 1827 | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Home's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) is a species of turtle in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Etymology
The specific name, homeana, is in honor of English surgeon and naturalist Everard Home.[2]
Geographic range
K. homeana is found in Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and possibly Togo.
Habitat
The natural habitats of Home's hinge-back tortoise are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and plantations.
Ecology and life history
The hinge-back is naturally attracted to red or pink flowers. They prefer low light and often move in early morning or dusk, preferring to stay hidden the rest of the day.
Diet
In captivity diet may include, banana, guava, watermelon, black mushrooms, cooked sweet potato, cooked potato, cooked or raw squash.
Conservation status
K. homeana is threatened by habitat loss.
References
- ↑ Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 286. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Kinixys homeana, p. 125).
External links
- Luiselli L, Politano E, Lea J. 2005. Kinixys homeana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.
- Reptile Magazine
- Tortoisetrust.org
- IUCN Red List (April, 2009)
- Turtle Rescue of Long Island
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