Boulenger's Cape Tortoise
Encyclopedia
Boulenger's cape tortoise or Boulenger's padloper (Homopus boulengeri) is a tortoise of the Homopus
genus, endemic to the Nama Karoo Region
of South Africa
and in southern Namibia
.
It is threatened by traffic on roads, overgrazing and poaching for the pet trade (Homopus species do not generally survive well in captivity).
Homopus
Homopus is a genus of tiny tortoises in the Testudinidae family. As a group, they are commonly known as "Cape tortoises" or "padlopers" , and include the smallest tortoises in the world....
genus, endemic to the Nama Karoo Region
Karoo
The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and in southern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
It is threatened by traffic on roads, overgrazing and poaching for the pet trade (Homopus species do not generally survive well in captivity).