Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)

Leopard Leopard tortoise’s scientific name Stigmochelys pardalis also means “leopard-marked tortoise”. In Greek, “stigma” means “mark” and “chelone” means “tortoise”. And in Latin, “Pardus” refers to “leopard“. So, the appearance of their carapaces is the most important characteristic of leopard tortoises.

Adult leopard tortoises reach up to 40 cm in length and weigh close to 13 kg. The northern and southern African species of leopard tortoise is comparably larger. Those species weigh up to 20 kg.

The carapace of the leopard tortoise is doom-like and high. The young ones are marked with black blotches, spots, dashes, or stripes on a yellow background just like leopards. Whereas the mature leopard tortoises don’t have such attractive carapaces. In their case, the carapaces have faded markings of brown or grey.

The leopard tortoise has a yellow, tan, or brown colored head and limb.

Range & habitat

Leopard tortoises are mostly found in the east and south African savannas. Their range of habitat includes places from Sudan to the southern Cape. They live in semi-arid, thorny, or grassland, mesic brushland, and savannas. Leopard tortoises live in abandoned fox, jackal, or aardvark holes.