Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise

The Bell's Hingeback Tortoise, Bell's Hing-back Tortoise, Bell's Hinged Tortoise, Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise, or Bell's Tortoise is a species of turtle

Turtle

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...

 from the Testudinidae family. It has the hinge that all the tortoises in Kinixys

Kinixys

Kinixys is a genus of turtle in the Testudinidae family.It contains the following species:* Common Tortoise * Home's Hinge-back Tortoise * Natal Hinge-back Tortoise...

 have. This Hineback is the most common and is widepsread throughout Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

, mainly Sudan

Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest country in Africa, and the Arab World, and tenth largest in the world by area...

, Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a nation in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.The United...

, Congo and down to Southern Africa.There are several subspecies and the Bell's hingeback tortoise is subject to wide variation throughout its extensive range.

Description

The Bell's Hingeback is a small-sized light brown tortoise. They can grow up to 22 cm. On the back of its shell, the tortoise has a 90 degree hinge which, when closed, can protect its rear legs and tail from predators. This broad band of flexible connective tissue is located between the 4th and 5th costals and the 7th and 8th peripherals in adults. Most Bell's Hingebacks have five claws on each forefoot except for one of the subspecies, K. b. nogeuyi.

Subspecies

K. b. belliana - The Common Bell's Hingeback

K. b. mertensi - The Central Bell's Hingeback

K. b. nogeuyi - The Western Bell's Hingeback

K. b. zombensis - The Southeastern Bell's Hingeback