Bell's hinge-back tortoise
Straight edge - joint turtle
The smooth edge - joint turtle ( Kinixys belliana ) is a native to Africa and widespread land turtle. It reaches a size of about 22 cm. It comes in Ethiopia, Kenya, D. R. Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania (including Zanzibar ) ago. Their habitat is moist savannas, woodlands and thickets.
Subspecies and their distribution
The type Straight edge - joint turtle belongs to the subordination of the neck Berger ( Cryptodira ) and there to the kind of joint turtles ( Kinixys ). There are known three subspecies:
- East African plain edge joint turtle ( Kinixys belliana belliana ) is the nominate race, which occurs from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Somalia to Uganda and western Kenya.
- West African plain edge joint turtle ( Kinixys belliana nogueyi ) that occurs from the West African Senegal to Cameroon and the Central African Republic.
- Kinixys belliana zombensis that is spread from northeastern Kenya to north- east of South Africa, of course. In Madagascar, it has been introduced and has established itself there.
Appearance
The smooth edge - joint turtles have a carapace length of up to 22 centimeters. The color of the carapace is very uneven. It ranges from a light horn color over a yellow-green, yellowish or reddish brown. Like all turtles joint also has the smooth edge - joint turtle in the back of the carapace on a hinge by which it is able to fold down the tank and thus protect the tail and hind limbs. This is only to be found in adult animals. In young animals this is still missing. They only have a slight displacement of the edge ribs and the rear of the shield body.
Way of life
The smooth edge - joint turtle feeds on plant and animal foods and requires a warmer and more humid environment than the domestic in Europe tortoise.
Spawning takes place from November to March. It will be placed two to six eggs, two egg-laying in the year are possible.
Due to habitat destruction and Absammlung the Straight Edge joint turtle is one of the highly endangered species. Since it is also difficult to maintain, should be taken from a terrarium distance.