Leopard tortoise

Leopard tortoise
Conservation status
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordate
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Stigmochelys Gray, 1873
Species:	S. pardalis
Binomial name
Stigmochelys pardalis[1][2] (Bell, 1828)
Synonyms[3]
Testudo pardalis Bell, 1828 Testudo biguttata Cuvier, 1829 (nomen nudum) Testudo armata Boie, 1831 (nomen nudum) Testudo bipunctata Gray, 1831 Geochelone (Geochelone) pardalis Fitzinger, 1835 Megachersine pardalis Hewitt, 1933 Testudo pardalis pardalis Loveridge, 1935 Geochelone pardalis pardalis Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Stigmochelys pardalis Gerlach, 2001 Centrochelys pardalis pardalis Vetter, 2002 Stigmochelys pardalis pardalis Bour, 2002 Psammobates pardalis Le, Raxworthy, McCord & Mertz, 2006 Testudo pardalis babcocki Loveridge, 1935 Geochelone pardalis babcocki Loveridge & Williams, 1957 Geochelone babcocki Pritchard, 1967 Geochelone paradalis babcocki Dadd, 1974 Geochelone pardalis baboocki Młynarski, 1976 (ex errore) Centrochelys pardalis babcocki Vetter, 2002 Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki Bour, 2002 Geochelone pardalis babcockii Le, Raxworthy, McCord & Mertz, 2006 (ex errore)

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. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, but in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone instead.^[1] This chelonian is a grazing species of tortoise that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats, although some leopard tortoises have been found in rainier areas. In both very hot and very cold weather they may dwell in abandoned fox, jackal, or anteater holes. Leopard tortoises do not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Not surprisingly, given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favors succulents and thistles, and (in captivity) the fruit and pads of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) (cactus are New World plants not native to Africa). The African Leopard Tortoise typically lives 80 to 100 years.

Taxonomy and etymology

Its generic name is a combination of two Greek words:Stigma meaning "mark" or "point"* and Chelone(Χελωνη) meaning "tortoise". Its specific name pardalis is from the Latin word pardus meaning "leopard" and refers to the leopard-likespots on the tortoise's shell.

Description

Leopard tortoise eating plant material.

The leopard tortoise is the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 18-inch (460 mm) and weighing 40-pound (18 kg).^[4] Large examples may be 70-centimetre (28 in) long and weigh up to 120-pound (54 kg).^[5] An adult's maximum shell length can reach a 24-inch (610 mm) diameter.^[4]

There are regional reports of much larger specimens. Exceptionally the giant Ethiopian form might reach 100-centimetre (39 in). In humid forests in southern Sudan Stigmochelys pardalis may attain lengths of 45 inches.

The carapace is high and domed, sometimes with pyramid shaped scutes. Juveniles and young adults are attractively marked and the markings on each individual are unique. The skin and background colour are cream to yellow, and the carapace is marked with black blotches, spots or even dashes or stripes. However, in mature adults the markings tend to fade to a slaty, nondescript brown or grey, commonly tinged with the local dust.

Behavior

Leopard tortoises are herbivorous. They are more defensive than offensive, retracting feet and head into their shell for protection. This often results in a hissing sound, probably due to the squeezing of air from the lungs as the limbs and head are retracted.

Adaptations

Like most tortoises, they can retract their head and feet into their shell in defense when threatened. Also like all tortoises and turtles, their mouth is a "beak". The rear legs are very trunk-like, the front legs are almost paddle shaped and "pigeon-toed" with a row of small "nails". They can move very fast on these legs, and maneuver over rocky terrain easily They can also climb and go underwater for up to 10 minutes. Younger animals have a surprising ability to climb, as their toenails provide a very secure grip on wood, concrete, and rough stone surfaces. Small Leopard Tortoises (under 6 inch length) have been observed climbing vertically up and over a 12-inch-high (300 mm) wooden board intended to be an enclosure boundary.

Natural history

This is the most widely distributed tortoise in Southern Africa. It has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, but is absent from all of West Africa and most of Central Africa. It has been recorded in Botswana, Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.^[1] Leopard tortoises are the fourth largest species of tortoise, after the African spurred tortoise, the Galapagos tortoise, and Aldabra giant tortoise.

Conservation

Leopard tortoises are increasingly being bred in captivity. This is a positive development, as it should lead to a gradual reduction in demand for animals caught in the wild. In most cases, wild-caught leopard tortoises are not only loaded with ticks, mites and internal parasites, but they are usually very stressed and dehydrated and may not voluntarily eat. Even in the best of circumstances, wild-caught leopard tortoises will run up extensive veterinary bills and much time will be spent rehabilitating them. As of March 22, 2000, the USDA has banned importation of the Leopard Tortoise, Bell's hinge-back tortoise and the African spurred tortoise.

In the wild, healthy populations still exist in rural areas, national parks and nature reserves. However, it is a staple food item in the diets of many local peoples. In areas of significant human populations, the leopard tortoise is considered vulnerable.

This tortoise is listed in CITES Appendix II.

Breeding and Reproduction

A very long-lived animal, the leopard tortoise reaches sexual maturity between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Captive leopard tortoises, however, grow faster and may mature as young as 6 years of age.

Leopard tortoises "court" by the male ramming the female. When mating, the male makes grunting vocalizations. After mating, the female lays a clutch consisting of 5 to 18 eggs. The South African leopard tortoise is significantly more difficult to breed in captivity than the common leopard tortoise, S. p. babcocki. Eggs will rarely hatch in an incubator. Most successes have occurred when eggs are left in the ground, and when the climate is similar to the natural one for these tortoises.

As a pet

Leopard tortoises became popular in captivity due to captive breeding. These turtles are very prone to respiratory problems if temperatures are not maintained. Leopard tortoises live at 75-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The southern leopard tortoise is more cold tolerant than the northern leopard tortoise. The leopard tortoise's diet could be supplemented with leafy greens such as mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion, arugula or kale and some fibrous fruits such as apples, pears, pads/fruits of the prickly pear cactus and access to fresh water.

Gallery

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  One-month-old hatchling

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  Small 20 year old leopard tortoise eating

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  Retracted forelegs of adult female Leopard tortoise

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  Closeup of scutes
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  Shell patterns fade in mature specimens

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  Three adult leopard tortoises

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  Leopard tortoise on Azerbaijan stamp

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  Three baby leopard tortoises

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stigmochelys pardalis.

• Leopard Tortoise, description and picture
• Information about the Leopard Tortoise
• Leopard Tortoise information, pictures and Care information

Tortoise family of turtles (Testudinidae) Genus Species of the tortoise family Aldabrachelys Aldabra giant tortoise Astrochelys Angonoka tortoise Radiated tortoise Chelonoidis Yellow-footed tortoise Chaco tortoise Galápagos tortoise Red-footed tortoise Chersina Angulate tortoise Centrochelys African spurred tortoise Cylindraspis† Domed Mauritius giant tortoise† Domed Rodrigues giant tortoise† Réunion giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Mauritius giant tortoise† Saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoise† Geochelone Burmese star tortoise Indian star tortoise Gopherus Bolson tortoise Desert tortoise Gopher tortoise Sonoran Desert tortoise Texas tortoise Homopus Common padloper Nama padloper Karoo padloper Greater padloper Speckled padloper Indotestudo Elongated tortoise Forsten's tortoise Travancore tortoise Kinixys Bell's hinge-back tortoise Forest hinge-back tortoise Home's hinge-back tortoise Lobatse hinge-back tortoise Natal hinge-back tortoise Speke's hinge-back tortoise Malacochersus Pancake tortoise Manouria Asian forest tortoise Impressed tortoise Psammobates Geometric tortoise Serrated tortoise Tent tortoise Pyxis Flat-backed spider tortoise Spider tortoise Stigmochelys Leopard tortoise Testudo Hermann's tortoise Kleinmann's tortoise Marginated tortoise Russian tortoise Spur-thighed tortoise Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Key: †=extinct.