Speke's hinge-back tortoise

Appearance

''K. spekii'' has an elongated carapace, up to 20 cm in length, which is distinctly flattened . Its carapace has a weak, disrupted medial keel, and posterior marginals that are neither strongly serrated nor reverted. This species has a well-developed hinge at the rear end of the upper part of its shell, permitting the protection of its rear legs after they have been retracted. The male has a notably longer tail than the female of this species, and the tails end in a spine. Females possess a flat plastron, yet males have a more concave one.

Naming

The specific name, ''spekii'', is in honor of English explorer John Hanning Speke.

Habitat

''K. spekii'' inhabits savannahs and dry bush with rocky areas. It tends to inhabit more wooded areas during the dry season, and to move out into the savannahs when the summer rains come.

Reproduction

Females of ''K. spekii'' lay a small clutch of two to four eggs in the summer.

Food

''K. spekii'' feeds on small flowers, leaves, grass, herbs, succulents and fungi. It also eats snails and other small invertebrates, having a special preference for millipedes.