habitat_narrative

Terrestrial

Homopus areolatus is associated mainly with fynbos and renosterveld vegetation, but occurs also in open thicket in the Eastern Cape (Branch 2008). Relic populations in the southwestern interior are associated with fynbos or renosterveld inclusions in the Succulent Karoo Biome. The species occurs from sea level to elevations of 1,300 m in the interior, and prefers low but dense vegetation that provides protection against temperature extremes and predation. Annual rainfall over its range varies between 300 and 600 mm, but can be as high as 1,200 mm in the south. In the western region, winter rains prevail, but rainfall becomes non-seasonal towards the east.

Age of maturity is estimated as 8–10 years (M.D. Hofmeyr unpubl. data) and longevity can exceed 28 years (Boycott and Bourquin 2000). Females produce 1–3 eggs at a time and can lay more than one clutch per reproductive season, from May to November (B.T. Henen and M.D. Hofmeyr unpubl. data). Branch (1989) noted a record clutch size of five. There is no published information on the natural diet of H. areolatus.  In the wild it eats herbs (B.T. Henen and M.D. Hofmeyr unpubl. data), and in captivity it readily eats a variety of herbaceous plants and kitchen vegetables.