Psammobates oculifer
Encyclopedia
The serrated tortoise, Psammobates oculifer, is a species of tortoise
and one of three members of the genus
, Psammobates
. It is found in countries of Southern Africa
including: Botswana
, Namibia
and the Republic of South Africa (from extreme W Transvaal and the W Orange Free State northwestward). The common name serrated tortoise, is shared by another tortoise species, Kinixys erosa.
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
and one of three members of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Psammobates
Psammobates
Psammobates is a genus of tortoise. This genus contains three member species, all of which are indigenous to Southern Africa.-Species:*Geometric Tortoise, Psammobates geometricus*Serrated Star Tortoise, Psammobates oculifer...
. It is found in countries of Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
including: Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, 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...
and the Republic of South Africa (from extreme W Transvaal and the W Orange Free State northwestward). The common name serrated tortoise, is shared by another tortoise species, Kinixys erosa.