Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata)

Family Testudinidae

 This is the only Angulate tortoise we have and is endemic to South Africa.

 It is unusual in that it has a single protecting gular shield where all other land tortoise have a pair. In male-on male fights, this is used as a battering ram and to overturn the opponent.

The shell length is 30cm and they weight about 2kg. It lives for 32 years in captivity.

 It is found along the Western Cape coastal regions and slightly inland and seen in a wide variety of vegetation types ranging from semi-desert to fynbos and succulent Karoo thicket.

 Females lay several single clutches of eggs per year in ground softened by rain or urine. Incubation varies between 3-7 months depending on the temperature.

Info: A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa (Johan Marais & Graham Alexander)