Homopus signatus

Homopus signatus (lat.) - a species of land turtles.

Homopus signatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animals Type of: Chordate Grade: Reptiles Squad: Turtles Family: Land turtles Gender: Flat turtles View: Homopus signatus
Latin name
Homopus signatus Gmelin , 1789

Security status Close to vulnerable IUCN 3.1 Near Threatened : 10241

The total length of the carapace ranges from 6 to 10 cm, weight - from 95 to 165 g. Sexual dimorphism is observed: females are larger than males. The head is of moderate size. On karapaks there is a pronounced depression with indented central parts of the flaps. The posterior margin of the carapace is strongly serrated. The centers of the flaps are flat or raised. On the limbs there are femoral spurs.

The head is grayish or olive. Numerous small dots are scattered on the carapace on an orange or yellowish-pink background. There are also black rays on the carapace shields.

He loves dry forests and shrubs. It feeds mainly on plants, fruits, flowers, sometimes excrement.

Hibernation lasts 6-10 weeks. Hibernation stimulates sexual behavior. Without it, females are usually incapable of breeding.

During mating, males are very aggressive towards each other and towards females. The female lays 1 egg 35 × 23 mm in size. The incubation period is 130-145 days at a temperature of 27 ° C. The size of the newborn turtles is 25 × 35 mm and weighs 5-8 g.

It lives in the North Cape of South Africa and in the extreme south of Namibia .