The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is southern Africa's largest and most widespread tortoise, named for the leopard-like black-and-brown markings on its high, domed shell. A gentle plant-eater of the Kruger's savannah, it can exceed 700 mm in length and is a frequent, harmless sight on the park's roads.
Leopard Tortoise
Name
Leopard Tortoise [Stigmochelys pardalis]
Appearance
The Leopard Tortoise is a rather large tortoise that can exceed lengths of 700mm and can weigh up to 40kg. It has a domed carapace instead of a hinged one, its scutes are only faintly raised. Its nuchal is absent and its beak sometimes appears hooked. Its beak is often unicuspid and serrated. It gets its name from the colouration found on its shell. It has a light brown base colour with darker brown and black markings that cover the shell.
Diet
The Leopard Tortoise has a mainly plant based diet, feeding on grasses, succulents and annuals. Leopard Tortoises are also often found gnawing on bones and ingest hyena faeces.
Distribution
The Leopard Tortoise can frequently be found in the savannahs of Africa from the Southern Cape all the way to Sudan. They were mainly absent from the South Western Cape and the Transkei, the adjacent provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho introduced them in some areas.
Breeding
The female Leopard Tortoise lays between 6 – 15 hard shelled eggs in a hole, which she then covers with soft soil that she tamps down with her shell. The hatchlings weigh between 23 – 50g and measure up to 45mm in length.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does a leopard tortoise get?
The leopard tortoise is a large species that can exceed 700 mm in length and weigh up to around 40 kg. It has a tall, domed shell rather than a hinged one, patterned with dark brown and black markings on a light brown base, which is where its leopard name comes from.
What do leopard tortoises eat?
Leopard tortoises are mainly plant-eaters, feeding on grasses, succulents and annual plants. They also gnaw on bones and even ingest hyena droppings, behaviours thought to boost their calcium intake for shell and bone growth. This varied grazing suits the mixed grassland and savannah of the Kruger.
Where can you see a leopard tortoise in the Kruger?
Leopard tortoises are common and widespread across the Kruger's savannah and grassland. They are often seen moving slowly across or beside the roads, especially after rain. Guides sometimes stop to let one cross safely, a small but charming moment on a game drive focused on bigger game.
How do leopard tortoises breed?
The female digs a hole and lays a clutch of about 6 to 15 hard-shelled eggs, then covers them with soil which she tamps down firmly with her shell. The hatchlings emerge weighing between roughly 23 and 50 g and measuring up to about 45 mm long, fully independent from birth.
