Beaked Cape tortoise

Areoles flat turtle

The areoles flat turtle ( Homopus areolatus ) is a species of the family of tortoises and belongs to the genus of flat turtles. It is one of the smallest turtle species at all. In their distribution is limited to the Cape Province of South Africa. You get there before in a predominantly Mediterranean climate that characterized by dry and hot summers and cool and rainy winters. Their habitat are coastal heathlands and the Karoo, a semi-desert landscape in the central plateau of South Africa.

Appearance

The areoles flat turtle has a compared to other tortoises relatively flat carapace. The Shield centers often act depressed or sunk. The color of the carapace is reddish nut-brown. The plastron usually has no color markings and is solid light brown to ocher.

The females have a maximum carapace length of 11.4 centimeters. The males stay smaller and are a maximum of 9.5 inches in size. A striking feature of the male is the massive head. The jaw is strongly curved and hooked. The nostrils are located very high on the snout. The areoles flat turtle is among one of the two species in the genus of flat turtles, which have both on the forefeet and the hind legs only four toenails.

Way of life

The areoles flat turtle lives in bushland. She considers herself mostly in close to their hiding places. She is able to dig burrows themselves, but also uses the abandoned burrows of mammals. The females of the areoles flat turtle should be placed in a position several clutches per year. A clutch consists of usually between two and three eggs. The time period between oviposition and hatching of young animals is dependent on the ambient temperature and relative humidity. In general, the young hatch after 92-134 days. Newly hatched juveniles have a carapace length of 3 inches and weigh between seven and eight grams.

Areoles flat turtles feed predominantly vegetable. The currently used by food plants include blossoms, flowers and leaves.