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The Pancake Tortoise, or Malacochersus tornieri, is a flat-shelled tortoise most commonly found in Tanzania and Kenya. Its name is derived from the shape of its shell, which is shaped like a pancake. Unlike most tortoises, its shell is flat, flexible, and provides the tortoise very little defense against predators.The breeding seasons for this tortoise is in the months of January and February. For protection, the Pancake Tortoise hides in small crevices, which it can easily do due to the flat shape of its shell. The carapace is brown, frequently with a variable pattern of radiating dark lines on each scute, helping to camouflage the tortoise in its natural dry habitat. The plastron is pale yellow with dark brown seams and light yellow rays, and the head, limbs and tail are yellow-brown. Its bizarre, flattened, pancake-like profile makes this tortoise a sought after animal in zoological and private collections.
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