Forest Hinge-back Tortoise
Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812)
Also calledKantet Leddskilpadde (nob) · Kinixys Rongée (fra) · Skov-ledskildpadde (dan) · Stachelrand-Gelenkschildkröte (deu) · Tartaruga-casco-de-serra (por) · Testuggine di Schweigger (ita) · Testuggine serrata (ita) · Tortue articulée d'Afrique (fra) · csipkés zsanérteknős (hun) · Żółw zawiasowy (pol) · želva ohebná (ces) · Зубчатая киникса (rus) · سلحفاة الغابات مفصلية الظهر (ara) · モリセオレガメ (jpn)
First described in: Schweigger, A. F. Prodromus Monographia Cheloniorum auctore Schweigger.
The forest hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys erosa), also known commonly as the serrated hinge-back tortoise or Schweigger's tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is indigenous to the tropical forests and marshes of central and western Africa.
Descriptions from checklists and floras indexed by GBIF
biology_ecology
Biology and distribution. A rainforest dweller widely distributed across West and Central Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Uganda and southwards to northern Angola (Sánchez-Vialas et al. 2022). We sampled two individuals caught by local people in primary rainforest and for human consumption, afterwards confiscated by rangers and released in Mayombe NP.
Filling the gaps: herpetological checklist of Mayombe National Park and Cabinda Province (Angola) shed light on one of the most unexplored corners of tropical Central Africa
materials_examined
Material. ANGOLA – Cabinda Province • Inhuca; – 4.8590, 12.4440; 81 m a. s. l.; P 2.208; GenBank: PQ 456003. • Chilito, Mbundo; – 4.7279, 12.5068; 83 m a. s. l.; P 3.543; GenBank: PQ 456004. Identification. A large tortoise with spiny and upturned marginal scutes (Branch 2008). Specimens collected in Cabinda Province differ by> 2 % (16 S p - distance) from material collected from Equateur, DRC (GenBank: LR 697076) and by 3.5 % from its sister species Kinixys homeana (GenBank: DQ 424975).
Filling the gaps: herpetological checklist of Mayombe National Park and Cabinda Province (Angola) shed light on one of the most unexplored corners of tropical Central Africa
discussion
Comments. This species seems to be relatively abundant in Monte Mitra (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005). Reports of harvesting of this species in Monte Mitra forests are provided by Fa & García Yuste (2001). It is the sister species of K. homeana Bell, 1827 (Kindler et al. 2012). Specimens examined. Sixteen specimens. Río Muni: Bata, 20 May 1966 (EBD 2775 – 2777, EBD 2895 – 2896); Mbini-Senye, 03 June 1986 (EBD 20917); Nava-Ebeñ (Bata), 10 June 1984 (EBD 20273); Miboman, 08 June 1984 (EBD 20276), 10 June 1984 (EBD 20274), 20 June 1984 (EBD 20277); Ebian, 20 June 1984 (EBD 20275); San Joaquín de Ndyiacom, Ayamiken, 01 August 1986 (EBD 24983); Niefang, 25 March 1987 (EBD 25123); Etom, Evinayong-Aconibe, 25 May 1987 (EBD 24982); Mongomo, 02 July 1984 (EBD 18585 – 18586).
Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea
distribution
Distribution. Extends across the forests of West and Central Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Uganda and southwards to northern Angola. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded from Río Muni (Iverson 1992) at Cabo San Juan (Boulenger 1905) and Monte Alén National Park (Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) (Map 2 B).
Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Range & habitat
The forest hinge-back tortoise is indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here it is often found in marshes and river banks, where it spends much of its time buried under roots and logs. Its natural range extends from northern Angola, throughout the Congo Basin, as far east as the shores of Lake Victoria, and throughout the West African forests as far as Senegal. Specifically, it is found in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, possibly Benin, possibly Guinea-Bissau, and possibly Togo.
What it does
K. erosa can arch its back 90 degrees downwards to protect its tail and hind legs while sleeping and to protect itself from predators. It is an excellent swimmer and can dive and navigate rainforest water-bodies to search for food.
Where it has been recorded
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
Drag the globe to turn it. Dots are where records exist, not a range map; darker means more records.
In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Kinixys erosa in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2441708.