Home's hinge-back tortoise
Home's hinge-back tortoise | |
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In Kakum National Park, Ghana | |
Conservation status
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Testudinidae |
Genus: | Kinixys |
Species: | K. homeana
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Binomial name | |
Kinixys homeana Bell, 1827
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Home's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) is a species of tortoise 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.[3]
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[]
Home's hinge-back is naturally attracted to red or pink flowers. It prefers low light and often moves in early morning or dusk, preferring to stay hidden the rest of the day.
Diet[]
In captivity the diet of K. homeana may include, banana, guava, watermelon, black mushrooms, cooked sweet potato, cooked potato, and cooked or raw squash, and sources of animal protein such as earthworms, mealworms, crickets, snails and fish.[4]
Conservation status[]
K. homeana is threatened by habitat loss.
References[]
- ^ Luiselli, L.; Agyekumhene, A.; Akani, G.C.; Allman, P.; Diagne, T.; Eniang, E.A.; Mifsud, D.A.; Petrozzi, F.; Segniagbeto, G.H. (2021). "Kinixys homeana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T11003A18341580. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T11003A18341580.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 286. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Kinixys homeana, p. 125).
- ^ Hasenstab, Sara, New at the Zoo: Home's Hinge-back Tortoises, National Zoological Park (United States), retrieved August 4, 2019
External links[]
Further reading[]
- Bell T (1827). "On two new Genera of Land Tortoises". Trans. Linnean Soc. London 15: 392-401 + Plates XVI-XVII. (Kinixys, new genus, p. 398; K. homeana, new species, pp. 400-401 + Plate XVII, figure 2). (in English and Latin).
- Boulenger GA (1889). Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I-VI. (Cinixys homeana, p. 143).
- IUCN Red List critically endangered species
- Kinixys
- Turtles of Africa
- Reptiles described in 1827
- Turtle stubs