In the sun-scorched African wilderness, the Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) stands out. With its beautifully patterned shell, it is one of the largest tortoises in Africa.
The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape Province. It is the only extant member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past, it was commonly placed in Geochelone.
The leopard tortoise is a grazing species that favors semiarid, thorny to grassland habitats. In both very hot and very cold weather, it may dwell in abandoned fox, jackal, or aardvark burrows. The leopard tortoise does not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs.
The phylogenic placement of the leopard tortoise has been subject to several revisions. Different authors have placed it in Geochelone (1957), Stigmochelys (2001), Centrochelys (2002), and Psammobates (2006). More recently, consensus appears to have settled on Stigmochelys, a monotypic genus.
Stigmochelys is a combination of Greek words: stigma meaning "mark" or "point" and chelone meaning "tortoise".
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The Leopard Tortoise is native to the arid savannas of Central and Southern Africa. Leopard tortoises are well adapted to the semi-arid conditions of the savannah, and do not tolerate damp or cold well. As with all arid regions, the African savannah experiences extreme temperature fluctuations over a 24-hour period.
Leopard tortoises are most active early in the morning and just before the sun goes down, when the temperature is most moderate. When awake, leopard tortoises spend most of their time grazing on mixed grasses.
Like other turtles and tortoises, they have no ears but can sense vibrations that help them navigate their environment. They have a keen sense of smell that probably helps them locate food. They have no teeth (no turtle or tortoise does), but they bite and rip at food with their hard, sharp, beak-like mouths.
Leopard tortoises also eat the fruit and pads of prickly pear cactus and other succulents that provide them with water. They store water in large anal sacs that take up most of the space in their abdominal cavities.
The South African Giant Leopard Tortoise, Pardalis pardalis is a rarely seen, very large growing sub species of the common Leopard Tortoise from the extreme southern portion of the Leopard Tortoise range into Namibia and South Africa.
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Thegiantof the Leopard Tortoises, reaching lengths of up to 33 inches, and weights over 100 pounds, South African Leopard Tortoises are easily distinguished by their tell tale spotting in the center of their carapace (upper shell) scutes.
With only a few accomplished breeders able to successfully work with these impressive tortoises, the South African Leopard Tortoise is not often available - at any age/size... Their behavior and husbandry is identical to that for common Leopard Tortoises (Geochelone pardalis babcocki).
Leopard Tortoises originally came from the savannas of Southern and Eastern Africa. Their importation ended in 2000, so nearly all available animals are captive born here in the US. Breeders have become better at producing them in recent years, and once they are well started, they are great to keep and work with.
Inside they do well on mulch or sand, and in tanks or enclosures with temperature ranges from 77 f to 87 f. A basking spot of 98 f is needed. They are fine outdoors in temperatures up to 95 f, so long as they have well shaded hiding spots; and are protected from predators.
Low humidity is best for Leopards as a rule, but younger tortoises do need more than adults. We soak younger Leopards every third day for about 10 minutes in warm, shallow water.
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They do very well on Tortoise chow, mixed with veggies, and will endlessly graze on romaine lettuce, or grass. A calcium supplement is important to add to their diet.
The leopard tortoise is the fourth-largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 40 cm (16 in) and weighing 13 kg (29 lb). The carapace is high and domed with steep, almost vertical sides.
Juveniles and young adults are attractively marked with black blotches, spots, or even dashes and stripes on a yellow background. In mature adults, the markings tend to fade to a nondescript brown or grey.
They are widely distributed across the arid and savanna regions of eastern and southern Africa, extending from South Sudan and Somalia, across East Africa, to South Africa and Namibia. The species is generally absent from the humid forest regions of Central Africa.
Over this range, the leopard tortoise occupies the most varied habitats of any African tortoise, including grasslands, thorn-scrub, mesic brushland, and savannas.
Leopard tortoise face; this individual shows a serrated rhamphotheca, something not present in all individuals. Source: wikipedia.org
Leopard tortoises are herbivorous; their diet consists of a wide variety of plants including forbs, thistles, grasses, and succulents. They consume berries and other fruits when available. They sometimes gnaw on bones or even ash and hyena feces to obtain calcium, necessary for bone development and their eggshells.
Seeds can pass undigested through the gut, so the leopard tortoise plays a significant role in seed dispersal.
The leopard tortoise reaches sexual maturity between 12 and 15 years old, and may live as long as 80 to 100 years.
Mating and Reproduction
During the mating season, males fight over females, ramming and butting their competitors. They trail after females for quite some distance, often ramming them into submission. When mating, the male makes grunting vocalizations.
Nesting occurs between May and October when the female digs a hole and lays a clutch of five to 30 eggs. As many as five to seven clutches may be laid in a single season. Incubation takes 8-15 months depending on temperature.
The numerous predators of the eggs and hatchlings include monitor lizards, snakes, jackals, and crows.
Leopard tortoises are increasingly being bred in captivity, but many are still taken from the wild to be sold as pets. Any potential owner of a pet leopard tortoise needs to remember and consider carefully that these tortoises, like many species of tortoise, can live a very long time.
The USDA requires a veterinary health certificate for Leopard tortoises (and Sulcatta Tortoises) to be shipped from state to state.
Amazing Facts About Leopard Tortoises
- Incredible Shell Strength: Their shells are so strong that they’ve been likened to steel, able to withstand bites from lions and the crushing jaws of hyenas.
- Personal Water Tank: Inside its bladder, it stores large amounts of water, which it can reabsorb during droughts or when water is scarce.
- Water-Finding Abilities: These tortoises do seem to have an uncanny knack for detecting hidden water sources.
- Size Matters: It’s one of the largest tortoise species in Africa, growing up to 70 centimeters (over two feet) in length and weighing as much as 40 kilograms (88 pounds)!
- Speedy Tortoise: The Leopard Tortoise holds the title of the quickest tortoise on the African continent, reaching speeds of 0.3 kilometers per hour.
- Climbing Skills: These tortoises have been spotted navigating rocky terrain, scrambling over logs, and even attempting to scale small fences.
- Synchronized Hatching: Females can lay up to 30 eggs at a time, burying them in nests dug into the soft earth.
- Symbols of Rain: In many parts of Africa, Leopard Tortoises are considered symbols of rain, and local folklore has imbued them with mystical powers.
- Long Lifespans: Leopard Tortoises are some of the longest-living creatures on Earth, with lifespans that can extend beyond 100 years.
- Escape Artists: When it comes to escaping, this reptile is a true mastermind.
Leopard tortoise in the UK, showing high-domed carapace and a good view of the thorn-like forelimb scales. Source: wikipedia.org
Conservation Status
The leopard tortoise is a widespread species and remains common throughout most of its range. Human activities, including agricultural burning, consumption, and especially commercial exploitation in the pet trade, are potential threats, but have not yet caused significant population declines. They are increasingly being bred in captivity for the pet trade.
The leopard tortoise has a wide range and is comparatively still abundant, though it is exploited for meat and the pet trade and is CITES listed. The USA banned import of the species in 2000 since its ticks can carry Ehrlichia ruminantium, a bacterium responsible for the disease termed heartwater, cowdriosis, nintas or ehrlichiosis in cattle and other ruminants.
Tortoises are resistant to the disease (as are guineafowl) and studies indicate that they’re unlikely to spread it to new areas, but they can at least serve as a reservoir for it.
Leopard Tortoises can grow to be 2 to 2.5 feet long and weigh around 28 lbs, though some have been known to weigh as much as 90 lbs. They get their name from the yellow and black patterns on their shells.
Because of their size and protective shell, they do not have many predators as adults. This species can get very aggressive during mating season when competing for mates.
While leopard tortoises are considered a species of least concern according to the IUCN Red List, they have been heavily exploited by the pet trade. Leopard tortoises are increasingly being bred in captivity, but many are still taken from the wild to be sold as pets.
All animals, even tortoises, play an important role in their ecosystem and one more exotic pet in captivity is one less animal in the wild.
The Leopard Tortoise may not capture the limelight like the Big Five, but it’s a creature of quiet wonder-an evolutionary marvel that has survived in one of the planet’s toughest environments for millions of years. So, if you’re ever wandering through the bush, keep your eyes peeled for this slow-moving giant.
Distribution of the leopard tortoise. Source: wikipedia.org
