Here are the tiny "path-walkers" or padlopers indigenous to South Africa. They are diurnal terrestrial species which breed in the rainy season. Females bury 1-3 eggs only and can take between 11-30 years to reach maturity!
Southern Tent Tortoise: (Psammobates tentorius tentorius). In Southern and Eastern Karoo.
Western Tent Tortoise: (Psammobates tentorius trimeni). In South Africa, beyond the Orange river in Great Namaqualand and extreme Western Cape Provinces.
Northern Tent Tortoise: (Psammobates tentorius verroxii). Found in Great Namaqualand and Northern Cape Province
Karoo Cape Tortoise (Homopus femoralis): It´s endemic to the rocky areas of the Karoo region in South Africa. It is just 10 cm long (the largest of the padlopers!) and has only 4 toes in its front feet.
Beaked Cape Tortoise (Homopus areolatus): It is endemic to the Western Cape Province and it has only four toes on its front feet like the Karoo Cape Tortoise.
It´s got a sharp, hooked beak and the noses of the males turn bright orange or red in the mating season.
