Aspects of the population and reproductive ecology of sympatric hinge‐back tortoises (Kinixys homeanaandK. erosa) in southern Nigeria, on the basis of specimens traded in bush‐meat markets

Abstract

The ecology and population structure of hinge-back tortoises (genus Kinixys) was studied in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (West Africa), where these species are actively hunted by local people for subsistence. The work is based not only on capture, mark and recapture study of free-ranging specimens, but also on dissection of specimens offered for food, already dead, in the bush-meat markets of the study region. The frequency of observation of the two most common species, i.e. K. homeana and K. erosa, was significantly higher in three areas subjected to 'tradition conservation' (because tortoises are worshipped by natives due to animistic taboos) than in three other areas where they are harvested. In particular, the juvenile class was much depleted in the three harvest areas. Analyses of market specimens demonstrated that, in both K. homeana and K. erosa, most of the females with oviductal eggs are found during the peak of the dry season, and that there was a positive relationship between maternal size (plastron length) and number of eggs produced. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Knowledge gaps and conservation priorities for west African chelonians

“…represents everything that is 'known' on that topic for that species. Some studies covered several criteria and/or several species (i.e., nearly all K. homeana studies also include data for K. erosa; Lawson, 2000Lawson, , 2006Luiselli, 2003Luiselli, , 2006Akani et al, 2004;Cayuela et al, 2019). Using this scoring system, a low research score represents a species in greater need of research.…”

Preliminary diet record of hinge‐back tortoise Kinixys zombensis: A potential seed disperser?

“…Opportunistic observations of K. z. domerguei suggest that the species is also omnivorous (Mifsud et al, 2017). Most forest‐dwelling hinge‐back tortoises, such as K. zombensis , are generally cryptic, and their ecology is poorly understood (Akani et al, 2004). Thus, our aim was to provide a detailed dietary record of K. z. zombensis near the southernmost extent of the species’ range and postulate the implications of these findings for seed dispersal.…”