Kinixys belliana

Bell's hinge-back tortoise
Kinixys belliana nogueyi
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Kinixys
Species:	K. belliana
Binomial name
Kinixys belliana Gray, [1830]
Synonyms
Kinixys belliana belliana Testudo (Kinyxis) belliana Gray, 1831 Kinixys belliana Gray, 1831 Cinixys (Cinothorax) belliana Fitzinger, 1835 Cinothorax bellianus Fitzinger, 1843 Kinixys schoensis Rüppell, 1845 Kinixys belliana zombensis Hewitt, 1931 Kinixys belliana zuluensis Hewitt, 1931 Kinixys belliana belliana Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 Kinixys zuluensis Hewitt, 1937 Kinixys zombensis Mitchell, 1946 Kinixys belliana schoensis Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Kinixys belliana mertensi Laurent, 1956 Madakinixys domerguei Vuillemin, 1972 Kinixys shoensis Pritchard, 1979 (ex errore) Madakinixys domergei Gaffney, 1979 (ex errore) Kinixys belliana domerguei Bour, 1985 Kinixys belliana nogueyi Homopus nogueyi Lataste, 1886 Cinixys dorri Lataste, 1888 Cinixys nogueyi Siebenrock, 1903 Kinixys nogueyi Hewitt, 1931 Kinixys belliana nogueyi Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934

Bell's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys belliana) is a species of African tortoise, from the family Testudinidae. It has the hinge that characterizes all tortoises in the genus Kinixys. There are several subspecies (some of which may actually be separate species; see below) and the Bell's hinge-back tortoise is subject to wide variation throughout its extensive range.

Both the specific name, belliana, and the common name are in honor of English zoologist Thomas Bell.

Bell's hinge-back tortoise is a medium-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.

The scutes on its slightly domed and elongated shell typically have a radiating pattern of dark patches, though these can fade. Adult males have a concave belly. Most Bell's hinge-backs have five claws on each forefoot except for one of the subspecies, K. b. nogeuyi.

In its habitat, Bell's hinge-back tortoise favours tropical and sub-tropical savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa.

It was traditionally considered to be the most common and widespread hinge-back tortoise, found throughout a large part of sub-Saharan Africa such as in Sudan, Tanzania, DR Congo and down to southern Africa. However, a revision of the species advocated by Kindler et al. (2012) would restrict it only to the central African populations, ranging from Angola to Burundi.

Bell's hinge-back tortoise is an omnivore, with a very varied diet consisting mainly of a range of different plants, but also including insects and other meat.

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Wikipedia