Pancake tortoise

Physical features

• The African pancake tortoise has a very flat, yet flexible plastron that is made up of porous bones. This is in contrast to the usual solid shell bones of a tortoise.

• Their flat, semi-flexible shells help these tortoises to squeeze into tight spaces to avoid predation.

• Having a less dense shell means that they are lighter in weight which then translates into greater, speedier mobility. As a result of all of this, they typically will try to flee a situation instead of tucking in for protection as other tortoises do.

• They are a smaller species of tortoise and average about six inches in length and one pound in weight.

• Their carapace is brown with markings radiating out from the middle of each scute which acts as a camouflage in their naturally rocky environment.

Diet: Herbivore

• Wild – Dry grasses and vegetation

• Zoo – Various greens, hay, and vegetables

Reproduction

• Mating season is around the beginning of the year and results in egg laying in the months of July and August.

• Larger males generally are the ones to mate with all the females. The smaller males will not approach females in the presence of a larger male.

• Females generally lay one egg at a time, but multiple eggs in one season. The eggs are large in comparison to the female’s size (about 2”x1”) and buried under about three to four inches of loose sand.

• Hatchlings emerge after about four to six months of incubation and are completely independent at the time of hatching.

Interpretive Information

• They are sexually dimorphic and males can be identified by a longer, thicker tail.

• They are great climbers and make their homes under rocks, in rocky crevices, and in caves. The rocky granite outcrops that they most often make home are called “kopjes.”

• When threatened they can inflate their lungs, causing their pliable shell to inflate as well. This aids in protection because they are able to flee to the nearest crevice and brace themselves with their legs.

• Observational studies have found that multiple individuals can co-exist peacefully within one crevice. This is beneficial to the species because suitable living spaces can be spread out far from each other.

Updated April 2024