Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise

Kinixys spekii

Silhouette: Andrew A. Farke · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassTestudines
FamilyTestudinidae (Tortoises)
GenusKinixys (Hinged Tortoises)
SpeciesKinixys spekii (Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at South Luangwa National Park

1 Verified sightings at South Luangwa National Park From 2019 to 2026

222 Verified sightings across all 12 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise

Speke's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys spekii), also known commonly as Speke's hingeback tortoise, is a species of turtle in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Africa. The specific name, spekii, is in honor of English explorer John Hanning Speke.

K. spekii has an elongated carapace, up to 20 cm (7.9 in) in straight length, which is distinctly flattened, allowing it to seek refuge in rock crevices and under logs (the co-occurring pancake tortoise is even more flattened). Its carapace has a weak, disrupted medial keel, and posterior marginals that are neither strongly serrated nor reverted. This species has a well-developed hinge at the rear end of the upper part of its shell, permitting the protection of its rear legs after they have been retracted. The male has a notably longer tail than the female of this species, and the tails end in a spine. Females possess a flat plastron, yet males have a more concave one.

Speke's hinge-back tortoise is found in East Africa from Uganda and Kenya south to Eswatini, next to Mozambique and Zululand. Its range extends westwards as far as the coast of Angola. K. spekii... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at South Luangwa National Park

Stigmochelys pardalis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~30%
2	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~20%
3	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
4	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
5	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
6	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
7	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
8	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
9	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
10	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
11	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
12	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data

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