The tortoises (Testudinidae) and terrapins (Pelomedusidae) of southern Africa: their diversity, distribution and conservation

Abstract

Total species richness has two epicentres, including the Transvaal lowveld and adjacent KwaZulu/Natal (owing to the prevalence of pelomedusid terrapins) and the E and SW Cape (owing to small testudinids). The area encompassing Lesotho, Transkei and adjacent regions, lacks testudinids for unknown natural reasons. Endemic species are clustered in the Cape, whilst the few threatened species are more widely distributed. The majority of species is well protected in existing reserves. The small number of chelonian species in southern Africa and their relatively well-known distributions test the efficacy of an iterative reserve selection algorithm. This should exclude marginal records and isolated, peripheral populations from the analysis. -from Authors