Back to Tortoises & Turtles page  Rooipens (Chersina angulata)
Size: Length 15-28cm.
Colour: The carapace is
predominantly yellow (usually in old individuals), and dark brown or black
(predominantly black in young specimens), its circumference being distinctively
patterned with dark triangles. The under shell (plastron) is yellow, strongly
tinged with light orange to dark red in west coast specimens.
Habitat: Coastal
sandveld, valley bushveld, Karoo veld.
Nature has endowed the angulate
tortoise with a sturdy throat shield which it uses both in combat and self-
defence. The shield, or 'bowsprit', projects at the front of the under shell,
and is used in much the same way as a battering ram - to dislodge and overpower
rivals. This bowsprit, combined with the relatively small opening of the
carapace in front, also protects the angulate tortoise's head when it is
withdrawn.
During territorial or mating skirmishes, a duelling male
angulate tortoise achieves ultimate success when he manages to tip a male rival
over onto his back. This is an undignified position for any tortoise — though
not a permanent one, for with some agitated thrashing of his four legs and with
a rocking motion of his body, the creature is eventually able to right
himself.
Although angulate tortoises are vegetarians - being
particularly partial to young beans in captivity - they are thought to
supplement their diet in the wild by feeding occasionally on carrion. They will
certainly not refuse meat in captivity.
The female lays a single,
oval egg at a time, burying it in a 10 cm-deep hole burrowed in a sandy and well-
drained locality. She repeats the process regularly over the course of several
weeks. The incubation period varies from three to seven months. Back to Tortoises & Turtles page |
