Kinixys
Stutz- joint turtle ( Kinixys homeana )
Joint turtles ( Kinixys ) are in Africa -based turtles from the family of tortoises ( Testudinidae ). The scientific name is derived from Knixys "move" from the Greek bringing cinema and ixys "waist" or " hip ". As the German name, this refers to the mobility of the pelvis, which distinguishes this species from other tortoises.
Description
Characteristic of adult turtles is a hinge joint that is in the rear of the carapace and through which they close the rear part and thus can protect both the tail and the hind limbs. However, there are always individual adult individuals of this genus in which this hinge is missing.
System
The following types are distinguished:
- Stutz- joint turtle (K. homeana )
- Straight edge - joint turtle (K. belliana )
- Sting - edge joint turtle (K. erosa )
- Lobatse hinge turtle (K. lobatsiana )
- Natal Joint turtle (K. natalensis )
- Speke's hinge turtle (K. spekii )