Geometric tortoise: Difference between revisions

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==Habitat==
==Habitat==
The geometric tortoise is naturally restricted to the far south-western corner of the [[Western Cape]] Province, [[South Africa]]. It used to also occur within what is now the city of [[Cape Town]], but the last Cape Town population (at the tiny Harmony Flats reserve) died out. It was believed to be extinct in the 1960s but a surviving population was discovered in 1972 and it now occurs in three isolated pockets where it is conserved. A population in the [[Ceres, Western Cape|Ceres valley]], one in the [[Tulbagh]]-[[Worcester, Western Cape|Worcester]] valley, and a group surviving on the coastal lowlands to the southwest.</br>
The geometric tortoise is found in the [[Kalahari Desert]] and [[Cape Province]] of South Africa, and it is one of the rarest tortoise species in the world
These colourful tortoises live only in lowland [[fynbos]] and [[renosterveld]] vegetation, meaning that their populations are easily isolated by mountains which they cannot cross. <ref>http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_init_6020_1173955498.pdf</ref>

It is one of the rarest tortoise species in the world


==Diet==
==Diet==
The geometric tortoise's diet consists mainly of leaves, flowers, and [[grass]]
The geometric tortoise's diet consists mainly of the leaves, flowers, and shoots of a wide range of indigenous [[Fynbos]] and [[Renosterveld]] plants and grasses. Its very specific diet of local plant species means that it usually dies when kept in captivity.


==Behaviour==
==Behaviour==
They are said to hibernate in the months of June thru September or when their natural environment is not normal or when in [[captivity (animal)|captivity]]. Little is known about their reproductive behavior. When the female is ready to lay [[egg (biology)|eggs]], she digs a hole in the ground and covers it with grass or other vegetation.
They are said to hibernate in the months of June through September, or when their natural environment is not normal, or when in [[captivity (animal)|captivity]]. Little is known about their reproductive behavior. When the female is ready to lay [[egg (biology)|eggs]], she digs a hole in the ground and covers it with grass or other vegetation.


==Threats and Conservation==
==Threats and Conservation==
The geometric tortoise has lost 97% of its [[habitat]], and only 2000 to 3000 individuals exist today. It is threatened for a number of reasons including loss of habitat. Its eggs are a source of food for the African people and traders capture the adults for their shells which are used to make many different decorative items. This species is also preyed upon by other mammals. The South African government has set aside restricted park lands for the geometric tortoise and there are laws that prohibit the capture and the taking of its eggs.
The geometric tortoise has lost 97% of its [[habitat]], and only 2000 to 3000 individuals exist today. It is threatened for a number of reasons, but mainly due to loss of habitat. Restricted as it is to fertile lowlands and valleys, the vast majority of its tiny natural range has been covered with farms and housing.
In addition, its eggs are a source of food for the African people and traders capture the adults for their shells which are used to make many different decorative items. This species is also preyed upon by other mammals, particularly introduced mammals such as pigs and dogs.
The South African government has set aside restricted park lands for this unique tortoise, and there are laws that prohibit the capture and the taking of its eggs.



==References==
==References==
Line 44: Line 51:
* Piso, W. 1658. Historiae Naturalis and Medicae Indiae Occidentalis. Libri Quinque. pp.&nbsp;105–106. In: W. Piso. De Indiae Utriusque re Naturali et Medica. Libri Quatordecim, Amstelaedami. 327 pp.
* Piso, W. 1658. Historiae Naturalis and Medicae Indiae Occidentalis. Libri Quinque. pp.&nbsp;105–106. In: W. Piso. De Indiae Utriusque re Naturali et Medica. Libri Quatordecim, Amstelaedami. 327 pp.
* Rau, R. 1971. Weitere Angaben über die geometrische Landschildkröte, Testudo geometrica. Salamandra 7 (3/4):123-136
* Rau, R. 1971. Weitere Angaben über die geometrische Landschildkröte, Testudo geometrica. Salamandra 7 (3/4):123-136
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Reptiles of Africa]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Africa]]

Revision as of 06:50, 26 January 2011

Geometric Tortoise
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Testudines
Family:
Testudinidae
Genus:
Psammobates
Species:
P. geometricus
Binomial name
Psammobates geometricus
(Linnaeus, 1758 [1])

The geometric tortoise is an endangered species of tortoise and one of three members of the genus, Psammobates. It is found in a very small section in the South-Western Cape of South Africa.

Identification

It has a very strong, black and yellow patternered carapace used for defense against predators. The patterns are arranged in ray-like markings and help the tortoise blend in with its environment. This tortoise is very small, and a full grown turtle can only reach about 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

Habitat

The geometric tortoise is naturally restricted to the far south-western corner of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It used to also occur within what is now the city of Cape Town, but the last Cape Town population (at the tiny Harmony Flats reserve) died out. It was believed to be extinct in the 1960s but a surviving population was discovered in 1972 and it now occurs in three isolated pockets where it is conserved. A population in the Ceres valley, one in the Tulbagh-Worcester valley, and a group surviving on the coastal lowlands to the southwest.
These colourful tortoises live only in lowland fynbos and renosterveld vegetation, meaning that their populations are easily isolated by mountains which they cannot cross. [1]

It is one of the rarest tortoise species in the world

Diet

The geometric tortoise's diet consists mainly of the leaves, flowers, and shoots of a wide range of indigenous Fynbos and Renosterveld plants and grasses. Its very specific diet of local plant species means that it usually dies when kept in captivity.

Behaviour

They are said to hibernate in the months of June through September, or when their natural environment is not normal, or when in captivity. Little is known about their reproductive behavior. When the female is ready to lay eggs, she digs a hole in the ground and covers it with grass or other vegetation.

Threats and Conservation

The geometric tortoise has lost 97% of its habitat, and only 2000 to 3000 individuals exist today. It is threatened for a number of reasons, but mainly due to loss of habitat. Restricted as it is to fertile lowlands and valleys, the vast majority of its tiny natural range has been covered with farms and housing. In addition, its eggs are a source of food for the African people and traders capture the adults for their shells which are used to make many different decorative items. This species is also preyed upon by other mammals, particularly introduced mammals such as pigs and dogs.

The South African government has set aside restricted park lands for this unique tortoise, and there are laws that prohibit the capture and the taking of its eggs.


References

  • Library.thinkquest.org entry
  • Baard, E. H. W. 1989. The Ecology and Conservation Status of the Geometric Tortoise Psammobates geometricus: Preliminary Results Jour. Herp. Ass. Afr. (36): 72-72
  • Baard, E. H. W. 1991. A Review of the Taxonomic History of and some Literature on the Geometric Tortoise, Psammobates geometricus Jour. Herp. Ass. Afr. (39): 8-12
  • Baard, E.H.W. 1995. Growth, age at maturity and sexual dimorphism in the geometric tortoise, Psammobates geometricus Jour. Herp. Ass. Afr. (44): 10-15
  • Baard, E.H.W.; Mouton, P.L.N. 1993. A Hypothesis Explaining the Enigmatic Distribution of the Geometric Tortoise, Psammobates geometricus, in South Africa Herpetological Journal 3 (2): 65-67
  • Duméril, A.M.C., and G. Bibron. 1835. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles, Vol. 2. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, iv + 680 p.
  • Ernst,C.H. and Barbour,R.W. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. - London
  • Hoogmoed, M.S., and C.R. Crumly. 1984. Land tortoise types in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Histoire with comments on nomenclature and systematics (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae). Zool. Meded. 58(15): 241-259.
  • Iverson, J.B. 1986. A Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. Paust Printing, Richmond, Indiana. viii + 282 pp.
  • Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiæ. 10th Edition: 824 pp.
  • Piso, W. 1658. Historiae Naturalis and Medicae Indiae Occidentalis. Libri Quinque. pp. 105–106. In: W. Piso. De Indiae Utriusque re Naturali et Medica. Libri Quatordecim, Amstelaedami. 327 pp.
  • Rau, R. 1971. Weitere Angaben über die geometrische Landschildkröte, Testudo geometrica. Salamandra 7 (3/4):123-136
  1. ^ http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_init_6020_1173955498.pdf
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