Page 2 of 5
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:06 pm
by Lisbeth
Wow! is he/she pretty
Is it a tent Tortoise?
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:35 pm
by okie
Lisbeth , no , you are thinking of Psammobates tentorius tentorius , which looks somewhat similar . Their shields on the carapace are raised , looking like tents . There are 3 subspecies - Afrikaans - Knoppiesdop skilpadLiterally translated as Knobshell tortoise .
This is Psammobates geometricus - geometric tortoise - Afrikaans - suurpootjie ( sourfoot ) . It is the only endemic tortoise in the winterrainfall areas in the South Western Cape , restricted to low-lying areas of the Swartland , Breede Valley , and Ceres .
It is the only tortoise for which there are sanctuaries , specifically founded for them , the first one was in Paarl area , set aside on private land around 1972 . Another important sanctuary is in the Elandsberg area . There is also a very small sanctuary ( about 8 or 10 hectares ) , run by students of University of Cape Town , near me . ( And they are very very secretive about it too - nobody allowed ) .
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 6:07 pm
by Lisbeth
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 6:10 pm
by ExFmem

Beautiful indeed!
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:36 pm
by okie
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:39 pm
by nan
what a beauty

Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 12:23 pm
by Flutterby
Beautiful!! Well done okie!

Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:37 am
by Mel
Beautiful indeed!

Such a pity that it is so seriously endangered though.

Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 9:51 pm
by GlosterBirder
Struggling with this turtle from Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, Mpembheni, KZN, South Africa. I know there are only 2 or 3 choices but would appreciate a casting vote.
Re: Turtles & Tortoise Identification
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 10:11 pm
by Klipspringer
Pelusios sinuatus Serrated hinged terrapin

GB
Did you have an exciting birding trip to KZN? Any highlights?