Peter Cunningham

The world’s greatest chelonian diversity occurs on the Southern African subcontinent which includes 5 genera and 14 species of which 3 genera and 12 species are endemic to the subcontinent. Namibia has the second highest tortoise diversity after South Africa with 5 genera and 6 species. These include Geochelone pardalis, Chersina angulata, Psammobates oculiferus, Psammobates tentorius (verroxii & trimeni), Kinixys spekii and the yet to be described Homopus species. It is generally accepted that tortoise are the group of reptiles most under threat with numbers declining throughout Namibia mainly due to competition with domestic stock, habitat destruction, road-kill, electric fences and consumed as food by humans.
Geochelone pardalis – widespread except in the dry western & coastal Namib Desert
Chersina angulata – limited to the south-western winter rainfall coastal part of Namibia
Psammobates oculiferus – prefers the sandier eastern Kalahari parts of Namibia
Psammobates tentorius verroxii – prefers the central & southeastern parts of Namibia
Psammobates tentorius trimeni – limited to the southwestern parts of Namibia
Kinixys spekii – mainly associated with the sandy tree and woodland savanna in northeastern Namibia
Homopus sp. – limited to the mountainous southwestern parts of Namibia
Unfortunately very little is known regarding the actual distribution, status and overall threats to the tortoises found in Namibia.

Africa & Madagascar Session: Oral

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