[4][5] It is also commonly known as the parrot-beaked tortoise, due to the relatively large beak that the males of the species possess.

The shields of the carapace are flat, with large raised areolae, and a thin black edging.

Males also have more lightly coloured bellies, though they do not exhibit the plastral concavity that many other tortoise species do.

Here it favours coastal lowlands, especially along the south coast, in fynbos, strandveld, albany thicket and valley bushveld.

Due to its tiny size, this tortoise is heavily preyed on by crows, ostriches, jackals, baboons, dogs, and a wide range of other predators.

[14][15] Trade in collected Homopus species is strictly illegal in South Africa and Namibia.

Any captive specimens are systematically registered in noncommercial studbooks, and any commercial sale of Homopus tortoises is almost without exception strictly illegal.