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 extant member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past, it was commonly placed in Geochelone. This 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 holes. The leopard tortoise does not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favors succulents and thistles.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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Leopard In The NameThe Leopard tortoise is a big beautiful tortoise and is the fourth largest out of the tortoise family. Their shell pattern is attractive and also provides perfect camouflage in its home range. These animals are shy and they withdraw into the comfort of their shell when they sense any form of disturbance or danger.
Leopard tortoises inhabit the savannas of Southern and Eastern Africa, from Ethiopia to Sudan and from Natal to southern Angola, as well as South Africa and part of southwestern Africa. The hot, dry savannas have sparse vegetation, and the tortoises favor semi-arid to grassland areas, characteristic of grazing species. They are often seen in shady areas or resting underneath brushy plants to escape the immense heat. Some of them, however, inhabit rainy areas.
This species is not particularly social. Males will determine dominance through fighting, however, such dominance does not decide much more than access to a certain female. A leopard tortoise’s day is mostly taken up with eating and resting. Their back legs are trunk-like and their front legs are paddle shaped and they have "pigeon-toes" with a row of little "nails". These legs enable them to move very fast and maneuver easily over rocky terrain. Typically slow movers, they can sprint when startled or scared. They can also climb and can float and swim slowly due to the sizeable lung space in their large, domed shell that allows buoyancy. They have well-developed and good eyesight. A tortoise will hiss when it is scared, but the sound isn’t always from its mouth. When it quickly pulls it head and limbs into its shell, this forces all the air from their lungs, which may cause a hiss.
Strict herbivores (folivores), these animals will eat grass, but prefer to graze on succulents, flowers, fungi, berries, and a range of other fruit. They will sometimes eat ash or old bones, possibly to supplement their levels of calcium.
Leopard tortoises are monogamous and breed only with one partner per year during the mating season. Males and females both become increasingly aggressive when they are looking for a mate, fighting by butting and ramming their rivals. This species breeds from May until October. After mating, a female digs a hole from 100 to 300 mm deep in the ground, where she will lay her frail, white, spherical eggs. Incubation is for 9 to 12 months, varying according to the location, temperature, and precipitation. 5 to 7 clutches may be produced in one breeding season, around 3 to 4 weeks apart, with 5 to 30 eggs per clutch, with larger females laying more. Once the eggs are laid, the mother covers them up and leaves. Hatchlings are independent immediately upon emerging. Leopard tortoises reach maturity at five years old.
Leopard tortoises are seen throughout their geographic range as agricultural pests, and because of this, retaliatory killings do happen. They are also a staple food item for many local peoples, so where human populations are high, leopard tortoises are considered vulnerable.
According to IUCN, the Leopard tortoise is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. According to the University of Michigan (Museum of Zoology) resource, there are 5,990 individuals in Tanzania and only 500 individuals in Ethiopia. Overall, currently this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Leopard tortoise is important seed predator and disperses seeds throughout its environment.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...