Home's hinge-back tortoise

{{Speciesbox

| image = Home's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) Ghana.jpg

| image_caption = In Kakum National Park, Ghana

| status = CR

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| genus = Kinixys

| species = homeana

| authority = Bell, 1827

| synonyms = *Kinixys homeana
{{small|Bell, 1827}}

Cinixys homeana
{{small|— Wagler, 1830}}
Testudo (Kinyxis) homeana
{{small|— Gray, 1831}}
Kinixys belliana homeana
{{small|— Nutaphand, 1979}}

| synonyms_ref = {{Cite journal|journal=Vertebrate Zoology|title=Checklist of Chelonians of the World|year=2007|author=Fritz, Uwe|author-link=species:Uwe Fritz|author2=Havaš, Peter|author2-link=species:Peter Havaš|volume=57|issue=2|pages=286|doi=10.3897/vz.57.e30895 |doi-access=free |issn=1864-5755}}

|status_ref={{cite iucn |author=Luiselli, L. |author-link=species:Luca Luiselli |author2=Agyekumhene, A. |author3=Akani, G.C. |author4=Allman, P. |author5=Diagne, T. |author5-link=species:Tomas Diagne |author6=Eniang, E.A. |author6-link=species:Edem Archibong Eniang |author7=Mifsud, D.A. |author8=Petrozzi, F. |author8-link=species:Fabio Petrozzi |author9=Segniagbeto, G.H. |author9-link=species:Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto |date=2021 |title=Kinixys homeana |volume=2021 |page=e.T11003A18341580 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T11003A18341580.en |access-date=14 November 2021}}

}}

Home's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, homeana, is in honor of English surgeon and naturalist Everard Home.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Kinixys homeana, p. 125).

Geographic range

K. homeana is found in Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, and possibly Togo.{{EMBL species|genus=Kinixys|species=homeana}} www.reptile-database.org.

Habitat

The natural habitats of Home's hinge-back tortoise are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and plantations.

Ecology and life history

Home's hinge-back tortoise is naturally attracted to red or pink flowers. It prefers low light and often moves in early morning or dusk, preferring to stay hidden the rest of the day.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Diet

In captivity the diet of K. homeana may include, banana, guava, watermelon, black mushrooms, cooked sweet potato, cooked potato, and cooked or raw squash, and sources of animal protein such as earthworms, mealworms, crickets, snails and fish.{{Citation | url = https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/new-zoo-homes-hinge-back-tortoises | title = New at the Zoo: Home's Hinge-back Tortoises | last = Hasenstab | first = Sara | date = 2 August 2019 | publisher = National Zoological Park (United States) | access-date = August 4, 2019 }}

Conservation status

K. homeana is threatened by habitat loss.

References

External links

[http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Homes-Hingeback-Tortoise/ Reptile Magazine]
[http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/ckinixys.html Tortoisetrust.org]
[http://www.turtlerescues.com/african_hingeback_tortoises.htm Turtle Rescue of Long Island]