Kinixys erosa

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Cladus: Archelosauria
Division: Pan-Testudines
Division: Testudinata
Ordo: Testudines
Subordo: Cryptodira
Superfamilia: Testudinoidea

Familia: Testudinidae
Genus: Kinixys
Species: Kinixys erosa
Name

Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812)
Synonyms

Testudo erosa
Kinixys castanea
Cinixys erosa

Vernacular names
čeština: Želva ohebná
Deutsch: Stachelrand-Gelenkschildkröte
English: Forest hinge-back tortoise
日本語: モリセオレガメ

The forest hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys erosa), also known commonly as the serrated hinge-back tortoise or Schweigger's tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is indigenous to the tropical forests and marshes of central and western Africa.

A different species, Psammobates oculifer, is known by a similar common name, serrated tortoise.[3]

Geographic range and habitat

The forest hinge-back tortoise is indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here it is often found in marshes and river banks, where it spends much of its time buried under roots and logs.

Its natural range extends from northern Angola, throughout the Congo Basin, as far east as the shores of Lake Victoria, and throughout the West African forests as far as Senegal. Specifically, it is found in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, possibly Benin, possibly Guinea-Bissau, and possibly Togo.
Behavior

K. erosa can arch its back 90 degrees downwards to protect its tail and hind legs while sleeping and to protect itself from predators. It is an excellent swimmer[citation needed] and can dive and navigate rainforest water-bodies to search for food.
Reproduction

The female K. erosa lays up to 4 eggs on the ground, covered in leaves.
Diet

The forest hingeback tortoise is omnivorous, feeding on edible leaves, grass, invertebrates, carrion, weeds, and fruits.
Threats

K. erosa is hunted locally for bush meat, and its range has retreated due to clearance of its rainforest habitat. The forest hinge-back tortoise is considered to be threatened in the long-term, primarily due to habitat destruction.[4]
References

Tortoise.; Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Kinixys erosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T11002A3238083. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T11002A3238083.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 285–286. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
JCVI.org[permanent dead link] (Downloaded on 28 February 2010.)
Marcot, Bruce G. "Two Turtles from Western Democratic Republic of the Congo: Pelusios chapini and Kinixys erosa ". (Includes photos).