Tent tortoise

The tent tortoise (Psammobates tentorius) is a species of tortoise and one of three members of the genus, Psammobates.^[4] Known locally as the Karoo tent tortoise, this highly variable species is found in South Africa and Namibia.^[5]

Tent tortoise
Western 'Namaqualand' tent tortoise (P. t. trimeni)
Northern tent tortoise (P. t. verroxii)
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Psammobates
Species:	P. tentorius
Binomial name
Psammobates tentorius (Kuhl, 1820)[2]
IUCN distribution of the Karoo tent tortoise   Karoo tent tortoise   Western 'Namaqualand' tent tortoise
Synonyms[3]
P. t. tentorius Testudo tentoria Bell, 1828 Peltastes tentorius Gray, 1870 Chersinella tentoria albanica Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria duerdeni Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria karuella Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria karuica Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria lativittata Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria piscatella Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria subsulcata Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella tentoria tentorioides Hewitt, 1933 Psammobates tentoria albanica Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria duerdeni Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria piscatella Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates [tentoria] tentoria Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria tentorioides Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentoria karruica FitzSimons, 1946 (ex errore) Psammobates tentorius tentorius Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Testudo tentoria tentoria Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 P. t. trimeni Testudo trimeni Boulenger, 1886 Chersinella tentoria hexensis Hewitt, 1933 Chersinella trimeni Hewitt, 1933 Psammobates trimeni Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates tentorius trimeni Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Testudo tentoria trimeni Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 Psammobates tentoria trimeni Obst, 1985 P. t. verroxii Testudo verroxii Smith, 1839 Peltastes verreauxii Gray, 1870 Peltastes verroxii Gray, 1870 Testudo verreauxii Rochebrune, 1884 Testudo fiski Boulenger, 1886 Testudo smithi Boulenger, 1886 Testudo fiskii Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore) Testudo smithii Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore) Testudo seimundi Boulenger, 1903 Testudo boettgeri Siebenrock, 1904 Homopus bergeri Lindholm, 1906 Testudo bergeri Siebenrock, 1909 Testudo oscarboettgeri Lindholm, 1929 Chersinella fiski colesbergensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski cronwrighti Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella [fiski] fiski Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski grica Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski gricoides Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski orangensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella fiski seimundi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella schonlandi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii amasensis Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii bergeri Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii boettgeri Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella verroxii smithi Hewitt, 1934 Chersinella [verroxii] verroxii Hewitt, 1934 Testudo verroxi Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 (ex errore) Chersinella boettgeri FitzSimons, 1935 Chersinella fiskii FitzSimons, 1935 Psammobates fiski colesbergensis Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates fiski cronwrighti Hewitt, 1937 Psammobates depressa FitzSimons, 1938 Psammobates fiskii FitzSimons, 1938 Psammobates fiskii fiskii FitzSimons, 1946 Testudo smithi bergeri Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Testudo smithi smithi Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Testudo verroxii bergeri Mertens, 1955 Testudo verroxii smithi Mertens, 1955 Psammobates tentorius verroxii Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Chersinella schoenlandi Villiers, 1958 (ex errore) Psammobates verrauxi Villiers, 1958 (ex errore) Testudo tentoria verroxii Wermuth & Mertens, 1961 Psammobates tentorius verroxi Pritchard, 1979 Psammobates tentoria verroxi Obst, 1985 Testudo tentorius verroxii Branch, 1989 Psammobates tentorius veroxi Highfield, 1996 (ex errore)

Distribution

The Karoo tent tortoise occurs at very low densities throughout the Karoo and other semi-desert areas of southern Africa, extending from central Namibia almost to the southern coast of South Africa.

Within this range, its population is very sparse and individuals are normally rare and widely separated. The species is also increasingly rare due to habitat destruction and illegal collecting for the pet trade. Due to its specific diet that consists of certain Karoo plants, this species rarely survives in captivity and usually soon dies when taken outside of its natural habitat.

Identification

The Karoo tent tortoise is a very variable species, with at least three subspecies. Its shell is dark brown or black with a pattern of yellow or orange striped stars radiating from the centre of each domed shield making up the carapace. The tent tortoise has a beautiful geometric pattern of 'Bedouin tents' on its upper shell, and this is appropriate, for it is quite at home in the semi-desert. The colouring and size of this little tortoise vary greatly, particularly from one area to another, but also within a single 'population'. Occasional specimens are a uniform brown, though this is very rare. Male specimens are much smaller than the females, and have concave bellies.

Although this species shares much of its superficial outer appearance with its relatives in the genus Psammobates, it can easily be distinguished by its un-serrated shell margins, and the scutes along its shell bridge, which are broader than they are high.

Southern 'Karoo' tent tortoise

Western 'Namaqualand' tent tortoise scutes

Northern tent tortoise

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognised by biologists:

• Southern ("Karoo") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius tentorius (type species) or common tent tortoise. Authority: Bell 1828. Distribution: The southern Karoo region. South Africa(Southern and eastern Karoo from Grahamstown to Matjiesfontein). This subspecies has the most sharply raised 'tents' (conical scutes), with dull yellow stars radiating on a black background.^[6][7]

Western tent tortoise
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[8]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Psammobates
Species:	P. tentorius
Subspecies:	P. t. trimeni
Trinomial name
Psammobates tentorius trimeni Boulenger, 1886

Western ("Namaqualand") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius trimeni. Authority: Boulenger, 1886. Distribution: The Namaqualand Coast of Namibia and South Africa (from Lambert's Bay north to beyond the Orange River in Great Namaqualand - extreme western Cape Provinces). This is the smallest subspecies, with the boldest, brightest colouring and well-developed 'tents' (conical shell scutes).^[6][7]

• Northern ("Bushmanland") tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius verroxii. Authority: Smith, 1839. Distribution: The driest parts of the Karoo inland. Namibia (Northwest to the Great Namaqualand) and South Africa(Northern Cape Province). This subspecies has a flatter, rounder shell with underdeveloped 'tents', and more faded brown colouring.^[6][7]

Behaviour

The female tent tortoise lays a clutch of one to three eggs, and buries them in the sand as all other tortoises do. The young emerge in late summer or early autumn.

Diet

They depend on a very specialised diet including assorted Karoo bushes, mesembryanthemums and other South African succulents. Due to this diet, this little tortoise does not usually survive in captivity and usually dies soon, when taken outside of its semi-desert habitat.

Notes

1. Hofmeyr, M.D.; Leuteritz, T.; Baard, E.H.W. (2018). "Psammobates tentorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T170524A115656793. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T170524A115656793.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. JCVI.org (Retrieved Feb. 28, 2010).
3. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 290–292. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
4. Zip Code Zoo (Retrieved 28 February 2010)
5. "Tent Tortoise".
6. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 290–292. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895.
7. Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status (PDF). Vol. 5. p. 000.121. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010. ISBN 978-0965354097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
8. Hofmeyr, M.D.; Leuteritz, T.; Baard, E.H.W. (2018). "Psammobates tentorius ssp. trimeni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T121936835A121936853. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T121936835A121936853.en. Retrieved 29 July 2023.

References

• Auerbach,R.D. 1987. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Mokwepa Consultants, Botswana, 295 pp.
• Bauer, Aaron M.; Branch, William R. & Haacke, Wulf D. 1993. The herpetofauna of the Kamanjab area and adjacent Damaraland, Namibia. Madoqua (Windhoek), 18 (2): 117–145.
• Duméril, A. M.C., G. BIBRON & A. DUMÉRIL 1854. Erpétologie générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles. Vol. 9. Paris, XX + 440 S.
• Ernst,C.H. and Barbour,R.W. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. - London
• Greig, J.C., and P.D. Burdett. 1976. Patterns in the distributions of Southern African terrestrial tortoises (Cryptodira: Testudinidae). Zool. Africana 11(2): 250–267.
• Hughes, B. 1986. Longevity Records of African Captive Amphibians and Reptiles: Part 1: Introduction and Species List 1 - Amphibians and Chelonians Jour. Herp. Ass. Afr. (32): 1–5
• Kuhl,H. 1820. Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie. Hermannsche Buchhandlung, Frankfurt, 152 pp.
• Loveridge, Arthur & Williams, Ernest E. 1957. Revision of the African Tortoises and Turtles of the Suborder Cryptodira. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 115 (6): 163–557
• Smith,A. 1840. Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa, Reptilia. Smith, Elder, and Co., London
• Valverde, J. 2005. Afrikanische Landschildkröten. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (6): 18–25
• Valverde, J. 2005. African Tortoises. Reptilia (GB) (43): 12-20