Tent tortoise

Tent tortoise

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Psammobates
Species:	P. tentorius
Binomial name
*Psammobates tentorius* (Kuhl, 1820)^[1]
Synonyms^[2]
Psammobates tentorius tentorius Testudo tentoria Bell, 1828 Peltastes tentorius Gray, 1870 Chersinella tentoria albanica Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria duerdeni Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria karuella Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria karuica Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria lativittata Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria piscatella Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria subsulcata Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria tentorioides Hewitt, 1933 Psammobates tentoria albanica Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria duerdeni Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria piscatella Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates [tentoria] tentoria Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria tentorioides Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria karruica FitzSimons, 1946 (ex errore) Psammobates tentorius tentorius Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Testudo tentoria tentoria Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 Psammobates tentorius trimeni Testudo trimeni Boulenger, 1886 Chersinella tentoria hexensis Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella trimeni Hewitt, 1933 Psammobates trimeni Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentorius trimeni Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Testudo tentoria trimeni Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 Psammobates tentoria trimeni Obst, 1985 Psammobates tentorius verroxii Testudo verroxii Smith, 1839 Peltastes verreauxii Gray, 1870 Peltastes verroxii Gray, 1870 Testudo verreauxii Rochebrune, 1884 Testudo fiski Boulenger, 1886 Testudo smithi Boulenger, 1886 Testudo fiskii Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore) Testudo smithii Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore) Testudo seimundi Boulenger, 1903 Testudo boettgeri Siebenrock, 1904 Homopus bergeri Lindholm, 1906 Testudo bergeri Siebenrock, 1909 Testudo oscarboettgeri Lindholm, 1929 Chersinella fiski colesbergensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski cronwrighti Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella [fiski] fiski Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski grica Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski gricoides Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski orangensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski seimundi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella schonlandi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii amasensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii bergeri Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii boettgeri Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii smithi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella [verroxii] verroxii Hewitt, 1934 Testudo verroxi Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 (ex errore) Chersinella boettgeri FitzSimons, 1935 Chersinella fiskii FitzSimons, 1935 Psammobates fiski colesbergensis Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates fiski cronwrighti Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates depressa FitzSimons, 1938 Psammobates fiskii FitzSimons, 1938 Psammobates fiskii fiskii FitzSimons, 1946 Testudo smithi bergeri Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Testudo smithi smithi Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Testudo verroxii bergeri Mertens, 1955 Testudo verroxii smithi Mertens, 1955 Psammobates tentorius verroxii Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Chersinella schoenlandi Villiers, 1958 (ex errore) Psammobates verrauxi Villiers, 1958 (ex errore) Testudo tentoria verroxii Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 Psammobates tentorius verroxi Pritchard, 1979 Psammobates tentoria verroxi Obst, 1985 Testudo tentorius verroxii Branch, 1989 Psammobates tentorius veroxi Highfield, 1996 (ex errore)

The tent tortoise (Psammobates tentorius) is a species of tortoise and one of three members of the genus, Psammobates.^[3] Known locally as the Karoo tent tortoise, this highly variable species is found in the Karoo and semi-desert regions of Southern Africa.

Distribution

The Karoo tent tortoise occurs at very low densities throughout the Karoo and other semi-desert areas of southern Africa, extending from central Namibia almost to the southern coast of South Africa.

Within this range, its population is very sparse and individuals are normally rare and widely separated. The species is also increasingly rare due to habitat destruction and illegal collecting for the pet trade. Due to its specific diet of certain Karoo plants, this species rarely survives in captivity and usually soon dies when taken outside of its natural habitat.

Identification

The Karoo tent tortoise is a very variable species, with at least three subspecies. Its shell is dark brown or black with a pattern of yellow or orange striped stars radiating from the centre of each domed shield making up the carapace. The tent tortoise has a beautiful geometric pattern of' Bedouin tents' on its upper shell, and this is appropriate, for it is quite at home in the semidesert. The colouring and size of this little tortoise vary greatly, particularly from one area to another but also within a single 'population'. Occasional specimens are a uniform brown, though this is very rare. Male specimens are much smaller than the females, and have concave bellies.

Although this species shares much of its superficial outer appearance with its relatives in the genus Psammobates, it can easily be distinguished by its un-serrated shell margins, and the scutes along its shell bridge, which are broader than they are high.

Subspecies

Northern tent tortoise Psammobates tentorius verroxii

Three subspecies are recognised by biologists:

Southern ("Karoo") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius tentorius (type species) or common tent tortoise. Authority: Bell 1828. Distribution: The southern Karoo region. South Africa(Southern and eastern Karoo from Grahamstown to Matjiesfontein). This subspecies has the most sharply raised 'tents' (conical scutes), with dull yellow stars radiating on a black background.^[4]^[5]
Western ("Namaqualand") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius trimeni. Authority: Boulenger, 1886. Distribution: The Namaqualand Coast. Namibia(Lambert’s Bay north to beyond the Orange River in Great Namaqualand) and South Africa(Extreme western Cape Provinces). This is the smallest subspecies, with the boldest, brightest colouring and well-developed 'tents' (conical shell scutes).^[4]^[5]
Northern ("Bushmanland") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius verroxii. Authority: Smith, 1839. Distribution: The driest parts of the Karoo inland. Namibia(Northwest to the Great Namaqualand) and South Africa(Northern Cape Province). This subspecies has a flatter, rounder shell with underdeveloped 'tents', and more faded brown colouring.^[4]^[5]

Behaviour

The female tent tortoise lays a clutch of one to three eggs, and buries them in the sand as all other tortoises do. The young emerge in late summer or early autumn.

Diet

They depend on a very specialised diet including assorted Karoo bushes, mesem-bryanthemums and other South African succulents. Due to its specialised diet, this little tortoise does not usually survive in captivity and usually soon dies when taken outside of its semi-desert habitat.

References

↑ JCVI.org (Retrieved Feb. 28, 2010).
↑ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 290–292. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
↑ Zip Code Zoo (Retrieved 28 February 2010)
1 2 3 Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 290–292. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17.
1 2 3 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.121. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-15.

Notes

Auerbach,R.D. 1987. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Mokwepa Consultants, Botswana, 295 pp.
Bauer, Aaron M.; Branch, William R. & Haacke, Wulf D. 1993. The herpetofauna of the Kamanjab area and adjacent Damaraland, Namibia. Madoqua (Windhoek), 18 (2): 117-145.
Duméril, A. M.C., G. BIBRON & A. DUMÉRIL 1854. Erpétologie générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles. Vol. 9. Paris, XX + 440 S.
Ernst,C.H. and Barbour,R.W. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. - London
Greig, J.C., and P.D. Burdett. 1976. Patterns in the distributions of Southern African terrestrial tortoises (Cryptodira: Testudinidae). Zool. Africana 11(2): 250-267.
Hughes, B. 1986. Longevity Records of African Captive Amphibians and Reptiles: Part 1: Introduction and Species List 1 - Amphibians and Chelonians Jour. Herp. Ass. Afr. (32): 1-5
Kuhl,H. 1820. Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie. Hermannsche Buchhandlung, Frankfurt, 152 pp.
Loveridge, Arthur & Williams, Ernest E. 1957. Revision of the African Tortoises and Turtles of the Suborder Cryptodira. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 115 (6): 163-557
Smith,A. 1840. Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa, Reptilia. Smith, Elder, and Co., London
Valverde, J. 2005. Afrikanische Landschildkröten. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (6): 18-25
Valverde, J. 2005. African Tortoises. Reptilia (GB) (43): 12-20

Tortoise family of turtles (Testudinidae)

Genus	Species of the tortoise family

Aldabrachelys	Aldabra giant tortoise

Astrochelys	Angonoka tortoise Radiated tortoise

Chelonoidis	Yellow-footed tortoise Chaco tortoise Galápagos tortoise Red-footed tortoise

Chersina	Angulate tortoise

Centrochelys	African spurred tortoise

Cylindraspis†	Domed Mauritius giant tortoise† Domed Rodrigues giant tortoise† Réunion giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Mauritius giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoise†

Geochelone	Burmese star tortoise Indian star tortoise

Gopherus	Bolson tortoise Desert tortoise Gopher tortoise Sonoran Desert tortoise Texas tortoise

Homopus	Common padloper Nama padloper Karoo padloper Greater padloper Speckled padloper

Indotestudo	Elongated tortoise Forsten's tortoise Travancore tortoise

Kinixys	Bell's hinge-back tortoise Forest hinge-back tortoise Home's hinge-back tortoise Lobatse hinge-back tortoise Natal hinge-back tortoise Speke's hinge-back tortoise

Malacochersus	Pancake tortoise

Manouria	Asian forest tortoise Impressed tortoise

Psammobates	Geometric tortoise Serrated tortoise Tent tortoise

Pyxis	Flat-backed spider tortoise Spider tortoise

Stigmochelys	Leopard tortoise

Testudo	Hermann's tortoise Kleinmann's tortoise Marginated tortoise Russian tortoise Spur-thighed tortoise

Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Key: †=extinct.

Extant turtle taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Chelonii or Testudines

Suborder

Superfamily

Family

Subfamily	Genus

Cryptodira

Chelydridae

	Chelydra Macrochelys

Chelonioidea

Cheloniidae

Carettinae	Caretta Lepidochelys

Cheloniinae	Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator

Dermochelyidae

	Dermochelys

Kinosternoidea

Dermatemydidae

	Dermatemys

Kinosternidae

Kinosterninae	Kinosternon Sternotherus

Staurotypinae	Claudius Staurotypus

Testudinoidea

Emydidae

Deirochelyinae	Chrysemys Deirochelys Graptemys Malaclemys Pseudemys Trachemys

Emydinae	Clemmys Emys Glyptemys Terrapene

Geoemydidae

Geoemydinae	Batagur Cuora Cyclemys Geoclemys Geoemyda Hardella Heosemys Leucocephalon Malayemys Mauremys Melanochelys Morenia Notochelys Orlitia Pangshura Sacalia Siebenrockiella Vijayachelys

Rhinoclemmydinae	Rhinoclemmys

Platysternidae

	Platysternon

Testudinidae

	Aldabrachelys Astrochelys Chelonoidis Chersina Cylindraspis Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Stigmochelys Testudo

Trionychia

Carettochelyidae

	Carettochelys

Trionychidae

Cyclanorbinae	Cyclanorbis Cycloderma Lissemys

Trionychinae	Amyda Apalone Chitra Dogania Nilssonia Palea Pelochelys Pelodiscus Rafetus Trionyx

Pleurodira

Chelidae

Chelinae	Acanthochelys Chelus Mesoclemmys Phrynops Platemys Rhinemys

Chelodininae	Chelodina Elseya Elusor Emydura Flaviemys Myuchelys Pseudemydura Rheodytes

Hydromedusinae	Hydromedusa

Pelomedusidae

	Pelomedusa Pelusios

Podocnemididae

	Erymnochelys Peltocephalus Podocnemis

Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Extinct turtles not included.

Portal Book See also List of Testudines families

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