Chersobius solus
Chersobius solus, commonly known as the Nama dwarf tortoise,[1] the Nama padloper, and Berger's cape tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae.[3][4][2] The species is endemic to Namibia.
Chersobius solus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Testudinidae |
Genus: | Chersobius |
Species: | C. solus |
Binomial name | |
Chersobius solus Branch, 2007 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
Conservation status
C. solus is threatened by traffic on roads, habitat destruction, and poaching for the pet trade. As the trade in collected Chersobius species is strictly illegal and any captive specimens are systematically registered in noncommercial studbooks in South Africa and Namibia, any commercial sale of Chersobius tortoises is almost without exception strictly illegal. Another threat comes from introduced species, such as domestic dogs and pigs.
In captivity
C. solus does not generally survive well in captivity unless some effort is made to supply specimens with their natural food, that is, endemic plants from the Cape/Karoo regions.[5]
References
- Branch WR (2018). "Chersobius solus (amended version of 1996 assessment)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T10238A125807053. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T10238A125807053.en. Downloaded on 28 November 2018.
- Species Chersobius solus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- Irish J (2012). Homopus solus, Namibia Biodiversity Database, retrieved 30 June 2013.
- Dwarf Tortoise Conservation website, retrieved 1 July 2013.
- Corton, Misty. Homopus (Padloper Tortoise) Care, World Chelonian Trust (retrieved August 20, 2013).