Leopard tortoise

Description:

The Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found throughout the savannas of Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. 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. The leopard tortoise is the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 460 mm and weighing 18 kg. Large examples may be 70-centimetre long and weigh up to 54 kg. An adult's maximum shell length can reach a 610 mm diameter.