{{short description|Genus of small tortoises from southern Africa}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = HomopusFemoralisSmit.jpg | image_caption = Greater padloper (''Homopus femoralis'') | taxon = Homopus | authority = A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1834<ref name=ITIS>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=208707#null ''Homopus'']. ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 2 }}

'''''Homopus''''' is a genus of tiny tortoises in the family Testudinidae, endemic to southern Africa. Three species formerly included in ''Homopus'' were reclassified{{when |date=October 2024}} into the genus ''Chersobius'',{{cn|date=December 2020}} leaving two remaining as ''Homopus'': the common padloper (''H.&nbsp;areolatus'') and the greater padloper (''H.&nbsp;femoralis'').

==Naming== As a group, the closely related species in ''Homopus'' and ''Chersobius'' are commonly known in Europe and Africa as '''padlopers''' (originally meaning "path-walkers" in Afrikaans), due to their habit of making tiny pathways through vegetation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.caiway.nl/~loehr/publications.html#reports |title=Homopus Research Foundation, reports |publisher=Home.caiway.nl |access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref><ref name=Corton/> In other parts of the world, such as the United States, they are known as '''Cape tortoises'''.<ref name=ITIS/><ref name=Obst>{{cite book| last1=Obst |first1=J. |first2=K. |last2=Richter |first3=U. |last3=Jacob |date=1988 |title=The Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Terrarium |publisher=T.F.H. press}}</ref>

==Distribution== The genus is indigenous and endemic to South Africa.

==Species== The genus contains these species: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Common names !! Scientific name !! Distribution |- | 120px|| Common padloper or parrot-beaked tortoise|| ''Homopus areolatus''|| Southern Cape coastal region, the most common padloper species<ref>{{cite web |url=http://academic.sun.ac.za/capeherp/cederberg/chelonianpadloper.htm |title=Scarce Home |publisher=Academic.sun.ac.za |access-date=2017-07-17 |archive-date=2017-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606200608/http://academic.sun.ac.za/capeherp/cederberg/chelonianpadloper.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | 120px||Greater padloper or Karoo cape tortoise (so-called, although not widespread in the Karoo region) || ''Homopus femoralis''<ref name="Rhodin116">{{cite web |url=http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v3_2010.pdf |title=Turtles of the World 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Conservation Status |date=2010-12-14 |access-date=2010-12-15 |last1=Rhodin |first1=Anders G.J. |last2=van Dijk |first2=Peter Paul |last3=Iverson |first3=John B. |last4=Shaffer |first4=H. Bradley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717125632/http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v3_2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead |pages=000.116}}</ref>||The Highveld grasslands, the largest of the padlopers<ref name=caiway>{{cite web|url=http://home.caiway.nl/~loehr/tortoises_hbou.html |title=Homopus Research Foundation |publisher=Home.caiway.nl |access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> |- |}

==Conservation and captivity== They are threatened by habitat destruction,<ref name=Obst/> traffic on roads, overgrazing, and poaching for the pet trade.<ref name=caiway /> Another threat comes from introduced species, such as domestic dogs and pigs.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

''H. areolatus'', unlike ''H.&nbsp;femoralis'', adapts well to captivity, as its diet is not highly specialized.<ref name=Corton>Corton, M., {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020821055247/http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Homopuscare.htm ''Homopus'' (Padloper Tortoise) Care]}}, World Chelonian Trust (retrieved August 20, 2013).</ref> The other ''Homopus'' and ''Chersobius'' species do not generally survive well in captivity unless some effort is made to supply them with their natural food, that is, endemic plants from the Cape/Karoo regions.<ref name=Corton/> Many are taken from their natural habitat each year, and subsequently die as a result, as they do not readily adapt to typical captive diets and environment change.<ref name=Corton/> However, they can be very hardy in captivity, and most problems with captive care are caused by faulty nutrition, high humidity, or inadequate husbandry.<ref name=Corton/>

==References== {{Commons category|Homopus}} {{Reflist}}

{{Testudinidae}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1054788}}

Category:Homopus Category:Turtles of Africa Category:Reptiles of South Africa Category:Turtle genera Category:Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril Category:Taxa named by Gabriel Bibron Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot