Reptiles
Geometric Tortoise
Psammobates geometricus
Among the wild flowers of a surviving patch of renosterveld in the Western Cape, a geometric tortoise grazes, its star-lined shell blending with the dappled ground.
Overview
The geometric tortoise, Psammobates geometricus, is a Critically Endangered tortoise found only in remnants of lowland renosterveld shrubland in the Western Cape of South Africa. Its tiny size, patterned shell, and tiny surviving habitat make it one of the rarest tortoises in the world.
A tortoise on shrinking islands
Almost all of the tortoise’s habitat has been ploughed for crops, so what remains is a scatter of small patches that cannot always support it through fires.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a declining population.
Geometric Tortoise: common questions
Why is it called the geometric tortoise?
It is named for the sharp yellow lines that radiate across the dark plates of its shell, forming a regular geometric pattern.
Why is it so rare?
It has lost most of its habitat to wheat fields and vineyards, and is also vulnerable to wildfires and to burning of the shrubland.
How big is the geometric tortoise?
It is only around 12 to 15 cm long, one of the smaller tortoises in the world.
Where does the geometric tortoise live?
It lives only in remnants of lowland renosterveld shrubland in the Western Cape of South Africa.