Inherited 2 torts - please help identify

[alexkehoe]

Hi All

I have recently inherited 2 tortoises. Please help me identify. Both were found by previous owners in Mozambique, so I am guessing they will be of an African type, but despite reading and looking at hundreds of pictures I am more confused than ever, and want to give them the proper care.

Thanks for any help / advice you can give

 

[TheNorwegian]

Im not an expert, But the smallest one of them looks like an African Hinged-backed Tortoise.

 

[Sky2Mina]

Uh, difficult! (For me, might not be difficult for the experts)
But if you had clearer pics that would be good.

And welcome to the forum!
What I can say for sure is that: they are cute

 

[dmarcus]

They both look like they could be hinged backs but the photos make it to hard to tell. Can you take and post a few better pictures..

And welcome to the forum...

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Hmmm ... Yeah, they both look like some kind of hingeback tortoises (Homopus spp.) to me, too, but I don't know which. They're not necessarily both of the same species, either. The Homopus genus has been under heavy revision in that last several years, and I haven't kept up with the changes, so I'm not sure which species you have there, if that is indeed what they are.

 

[Kristina]

Hingebacks are Kinixys, not Homopus. They appear to both be Bell's Hingebacks, Kinixys belliana

(Homopus are the Padlopers )

 

[EricIvins]

Spekes Hingebacks more than likely......

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Hingebacks are Kinixys, not Homopus. They appear to both be Bell's Hingebacks, Kinixys belliana

(Homopus are the Padlopers )

Oops, sorry! I was thinking of Homopus areolatus, the common padloper (aka beaked cape tortoise). I initially thought the colors of the little one reminded me of them, but I do think they're hingebacks (Kinixys), not padlopers.

---

Spekes Hingebacks more than likely......

So either Bell's or Speke's hingeback, eh? Interesting.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Alexkehoe:

Welcome to the forum!!

Is your name Alex? And are you in Africa?

I agree with the above that they are both hingebacks, but we'll need a more clear picture to tell you which kind. Also, if you'll turn them over and give us pictures of their plastron (bottom shell) including the tail area, we might be able to play "guess the sex."

 

[SnakeyeZ]

Nice looking tortoises!

Questions for anyone - Why do they call them "Hingebacks"?

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Nice looking tortoises!

Questions for anyone - Why do they call them "Hingebacks"?

Because they have a hinge on their backs!

Okay, teasing aside, here's the answer. Most turtles have a static shell, with both the carapace (back) and the plastron (belly) remaining fixed.

Some turtles (like American and Asian box turtles, as well as the juveniles of some Testudo tortoises) have a kinetic, or hinged plastron that closes the shell completely - like a box (hence the name).

Kinixys species are the only turtles with a hinge in the carapace instead of the plastron. This is why their genus is "Kinixys" and their common name is "hingeback"; their carapace is unique in the turtle world because it moves.

 

[Yvonne G]

Here's a good picture to go with GTT's explanation:

Notice the line in the carapace above and in front of the back leg. This is the "hinge." There is one on each side. The tortoise can pull in his legs and bend the back portion of the carapace down, closing off the tail and leg section similar to a box turtle.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Wow, I didn't know any of that, so thanks guys for the information...

 

[dmarcus]

Cool Yvonne I did not know that..

 

[SnakeyeZ]

Thanks! I figured they were called hingebacks for a reason, I just could never see the hinge on the pictures of others being posted. Yvonnes picture was helpful.

Thanks for the explanation GTT!

 

[GBtortoises]

Look like Speke's Hingebacks. Can you post pics of their beaks?

 

[Kristina]

The hinge in Hingebacks also assists the female with egg laying.

 

[alexkehoe]

Wow ! What a response !
Thanks everyone.
I posted yesterday from work so only had a couple of pics in my phone that I could upload.
Will take some better ones tonight and include their undersides, and beaks.

 

[alexkehoe]

Hi Alexkehoe:

Welcome to the forum!!

Is your name Alex? And are you in Africa?

I agree with the above that they are both hingebacks, but we'll need a more clear picture to tell you which kind. Also, if you'll turn them over and give us pictures of their plastron (bottom shell) including the tail area, we might be able to play "guess the sex."

Hi - yes I am Alex, and have been working in Mozambique for 1 Year. My torts came from a friend who has left after their contract finished, but they had never taken the time to find out what species Meat Pie(the big one) and Dave are! I have to say I was very surprised at the number of people who responded so quickly to my message. I look forward to learning more about these fascinating creatures and will be looking at everyone elses pics with much interest!

 

[yagyujubei]

I have to say that they're Speck's Hingebacks, which are native to Mozambique.