The pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) is a unique species of flat-shelled tortoise in the family Testudinidae. This East African species is native to Tanzania and Kenya. An introduced population is also found in Zimbabwe.
Here are some key facts about this fascinating creature:
- Scientific Name: Malacochersus tornieri
- Common Names: Crevice tortoise, softshell tortoise, Tonier’s tortoise
- Native Habitat: Arid savannas and scrublands of Kenya and Tanzania
Malacochersus tornieri
Physical Characteristics
The African pancake tortoise has a thin, flexible shell, unlike most tortoises that have hard, domed shells. Its carapace, or top part of the shell, is brown with a variable pattern of radiating dark lines on each scute, or shell plate. The plastron, or bottom part of the shell, is pale yellow with dark brown seams and light yellow rays. The head, limbs, and tail are yellowish-brown.
- Size: Pancake tortoises can grow up to be 6-7 inches long and weigh about 1 pound.
- Shell: The shell is normally about 6 to 7 inches long and 1 inch high.
- Unique Feature: The plastron (bottom part of the shell) moves in and out as the animal breathes.
The shell is unusually thin, flat, and flexible, helping make the pancake tortoise lighter and quicker than other tortoise species. Openings between the bony plates of the shell make the pancake tortoise much lighter and more agile than other tortoise species.
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When tortoises of this species hatch, their shells are domed like other species. As they age, their shells flatten out.
Habitat and Distribution
Pancake tortoises are native to southern Kenya, and northern and eastern Tanzania. They live in rocky outcrops, called kopjes, in dry savanna and thorny shrubland areas. Kopje habitats, which consist of rocky outcrops, also provide a good habitat for pancake tortoises.
They live in isolated colonies and spend much of their time hidden among the rocks. As many as ten tortoises have been found sharing the same crevice.
Distribution area in Kenya
Diet and Behavior
The diet primarily consists of dry grasses and vegetation. Pancake tortoises feast on dry grasses and most other vegetation. Occasionally, they may also eat seeds, nuts, and insects.
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Most activity occurs during the morning hours or in the late afternoon and early evening. These tortoises are most active in the morning and early evening. This is when they venture out to find food and bask in the sun for warmth. These tortoises stay safe by never straying too far from their shelter and only staying out for about an hour at a time. They never stray too far from their shelter.
The pancake tortoise is thought to be the fastest tortoise and the best climber, due to the lightness of its shell. They are able to scale nearly vertical surfaces.
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Reproduction
Males fight for access to females during the mating season, in January and February, with large males tending to get the most chances to mate. Mating behavior occurs throughout the year, but in their natural habitat it peaks in January and February.
Nesting in the wild seems to occur in July and August, although clutches are produced year-round in captivity. Nesting occurs in the late spring and early summer. From June to August, females will lay one egg at a time in loose, sandy dirt. Females dig their nests in loose soil or lay their singular egg in a crevice. Females are able to produce more eggs during the summer-typically four to six weeks after laying one egg.
Eggs will incubate in a hole about 4 inches deep for 4-6 months. Hatchlings are a mere 1-2 inches long and are independent as soon as they hatch.
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Adaptations
Unlike other tortoise species, Pancake tortoises have a flat, flexible shell instead of a dome-shaped, solid shell. Since they cannot hide completely in their shell, these tortoises rely on speed and flexibility. Once they wedge themselves into a rocky crevice, Pancake tortoises will hide until the threat is gone. Spike-like scales on their limbs help to protect the tortoise while it is hiding.
This species relies on speed and it’s flattened shape, rather than a heavy domed shell, to escape predators in its rocky environment. It can move much faster than other land tortoises and when disturbed, it hides in crevices in rocks. It then puffs itself up with air so that the shell is distended and the tortoise cannot be dislodged; it is able to use a vertical rock climbing technique.
Conservation Status
The greatest threats facing the pancake tortoise are habitat destruction and its over-exploitation by the pet trade. In Kenya, agricultural development is the primary cause of habitat loss. In Tanzania, cattle and goat overgrazing affect this species. Given the low reproductive rate of this tortoise, populations that have been harvested may take a long time to recover.
The pancake tortoise is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Trade in pancake tortoises is restricted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In 1981, Kenya banned the export of the pancake tortoise unless given written permission by the Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources.
As of 2019, Pancake tortoises have been listed as endangered.
Given the low reproductive rate, populations that have been harvested for the pet trade or have been disrupted by habitat loss may take a long time to recover.
Breeding efforts are underway in European zoos, where wildlife care specialists ensure that the eggs are incubating at the proper temperature for the sex needed for the growth of this population.
Table: Conservation Status and Threats
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| IUCN Red List | Critically Endangered |
| CITES | Appendix I |
| Threats | Habitat destruction, over-exploitation by pet trade |
| Protective Measures | Trade restrictions, breeding programs in zoos |
