Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Leopard Tortoise

Geochelone pardalis

Description:

This is a big tortoise. Average size is between 30-45cm but they can grow to 72cm. Weight 15-20kg but big ones can weigh as much as 40kg. The carapace is domed and not hinged. The carapace of hatchlings is yellow and becomes darker with age until it is dark grey-brown.

Habitat:

Varied; not restricted to montane grassland, also occuring in fynbos, valley bushveld, and arid and mesic savannah.

Notes:

This tortoise appeared in my garden. I put it in a fenced-off area to show it to my grandchildren but it was gone the following morning. It just pushed everything to one side to get out. They are extremely strong. This one was 36cm long

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

No Comments

Frankievr
Spotted by
Frankievr

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Spotted on Oct 28, 2013
Submitted on Dec 12, 2013

Spotted for Mission

Related Spottings

Leopard tortoise Galapagos Tortoise Morrocoy Indian Star Tortoise

Nearby Spottings

Small-spotted genet Cape Chestnut Tent spider web Cheetah
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team