Homopus is a southern African genus of 5-6 tortoises. Characteristics of the genus are as follows: small size, usually about 4-6": shells flat or very low; scutes not raised pyramidally, and sometimes depressed; carapace not hinged; males have nearly flat plastrons and long tails; paired, thickened gulars are wider than long; nuchal present. (Details from Branch and Walls).
All are inhabitants of very arid areas, and for this reason are usually considered difficult to establish in captivity outside their native regions. However, German keepers have had some success with some species in the genus, and Branch notes that some captives have reached a record of 28 years. This may have been in South Africa, however: Müller wrote in 1995 that he was only aware of breeding having been achieved once in the Netherlands, and for that reason declined to give tips on keeping the animals in captivity. In conclusion, while modern technology may assist dedicated chelonian specialists in future with these animals, they are probably not for the general keeper and certainly not for a beginner outside their own country.
| QUICK INDEX | ||
| H. areolatus, Parrot-Beaked Tortoise | H. bergeri, Berger's Padloper | H. boulengeri, Boulenger's Padloper |
| H. femoralis, Greater Padloper | H. signatus, Speckled Padloper |
| Species Name | Common Name | Location | Size | Notes |
| H. areolatus | Parrot-Beaked Tortoise [D: Areolen- Flachschildkröte] | RSA (Cape coastal region) | 7-9cm: max 11cm. | The common name of this species arises from its beak, which is strongly hooked and tricuspid. Its habitat includes coastal fynbos, arid mesic thicket and karroid broken veld. It shelters under rocks or in burrows and forages on the edge of thick cover. Carapace: 11 marginals: scute margins deeply etched and centres indented: nuchal present. Plastron: paired gulars. Scalation: forelimbs covered in large overlapping scales: buttock tubercles very small or absent: tail lacks terminal spine. Coloration: carapace yellowish-olive to green: juveniles and adult females usually have red-brown areolae and dark-brown to black margins. Males remain orange-brown with a greenish tinge to the edges of the vertebral and costal scutes: they have orange nasal scales in the breeding season. Plastron is yellowish with brown centre. Reproduction: males have flat plastrons and long tails. Females lay 1-3 (sometimes 4) eggs in summer. |
| H. bergeri | Berger's Cape Tortoise/Berger's Padloper/Nama Padloper | Namibia (Greater Namaqualand) | Considered a subspecies or synonym of H. boulengeri by some authorities: see EMY System Species entry . | |
| H. boulengeri | Karoo/Boulenger's Padloper [D: Boulenger- Flachschildkröte] | RSA (Great Karoo and W Little Karoo) | 10-13cm: max 16cm. | This species is found in rocky karroid regions. It shelters mainly under or among rocks. Often active before summer thunderstorms. Carapace: flat, with rounded bridge: 12 (usually) marginals. Scalation: forelimbs covered in large overlapping scales: buttock tubercles absent: tail lacks terminal spine. Other: forelimbs have 5 claws: beak weakly or not hooked, tricuspid, weakly serrated edge. Coloration: carapace varies between dark red and yellow brown, sometimes olive: neck and limbs usually dull yellow but sometimes bright yellow with orange scales. Reproduction: males have deep concavity in plastron and long tails: other details very sparse. |
| H. femoralis | Greater Padloper [D: Sporn- Flachschildkröte] | RSA (Cape, Free State), SE Lesotho | 10-13cm: max 16cm. | This is a widely found and reasonably common species. Its normal habitat is grassland on mountain plateaus. During winter it shelters in deep burrows if snow falls. Scalation: nuchal and paired gulars, usually 11 marginals. Coloration: ??. Reproduction: 1-3 eggs are laid in summer. |
| H. signatus | Speckled Padloper [D: Gesägte- Flachschildkröte] | RSA (W Cape to Namaqualand) | 6-8cm: max 9½cm. | Branch claims this to be the world's smallest tortoise species. It is found mainly in succulent karoo but also fynbos. Carapace: rounded bridge, has nuchal, usually 12 marginals. Plastron: paired gulars, lacks hinge: concave in males. Scalation: forelimbs covered in overlapping scales: buttock tubercles present. Other: beak weakly or not hooked: forelimbs have five claws. Coloration: see subspecies. Reproduction: mating occurs throughout spring and autumn: females lay a number of single-egg clutches in spring and summer. |
| H. s. signatus | RSA (Namaqua and Richtersveld) | Marginals serrated: nuchal wider than long: carapace shields raised with sunken centres: carapace light brown with black splashes. | ||
| H. s. chafer | RSA (W Cape) | Marginals not serrated: nuchal narrower than long: carapace shields smooth: carapace orange-red to salmon pink, with fine black spots and stippling. |
Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa, 3rd edition, Bill Branch, Struik, Cape Town 1998.
Schildkröten, Gerhard Müller, Eugen Ullmer, Stuttgart 1995.
Tortoises: Natural History, Care and Breeding in Captivity, Jerry G Walls, TFH, New Jersey 1996.
Misty Corton's Homopus care guide at www.chelonia.org.
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