habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Kinixys lobatsiana is a savanna species that inhabits rocky hillsides in habitats of mixed Acacia and Combretum woodland, tropical Bushveld and Thornveld where vegetation ranges from dense, short shrubland to open tree savanna (Broadley 1989, Branch 2008, Boycott 2014). The species is sympatric with K. spekii over most of its range. Kinixys lobatsiana is omnivorous and apart from feeding on herbaceous plants, fruits and mushrooms, its diet includes beetles, snails, and millipedes (Branch 2008). Activity is highest during the summer rainfall season and it appears to brumate in abandoned animal burrows or rock crevices in winter (Branch 2008). In captivity, mating has been observed in summer and nesting in early autumn, with females having up to six eggs per clutch (Boycott and Bourquin 2000). The species is sexually dimorphic with females being larger and heavier than males (max. carapace length 200 versus 170 mm and max. body mass 1,500 versus 820 g; Boycott and Bourquin 2000). The elongated shell is dorso-ventrally flattened and the carapace has a broken rayed pattern (often absent in males) on a buff to brown background (Boycott and Bourquin 2000, Branch 2008). Broadley (1993) commented that South African K. lobatsiana have more distinct markings than tortoises from southeastern Botswana.