It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone. Be sure you make arrangements for your leopard tortoise's care if you are unable to care for it. The price goes up for older tortoises, factoring in the cost to raise them to thrive in adulthood. The species is generally absent from the humid forest regions of Central Africa. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. & Mertz, L. 2006. With a potential lifespan of 100 years, this is an animal that could outlive you. These medical conditions are treatable by an exotics veterinarian who specializes in reptiles. If your leopard tortoise lives primarily outdoors, where it can dig in the dirt and forage on the grass, a secondary indoor enclosure can use newspapers for the substrate. If they feel threatened, they will likely to retreat into their shells in their defense. If you live in a cold climate, you may want to reconsider owning a leopard tortoise. They gnaw bones, and carnivore faeces are consumed to obtain calcium for shell growth and eggshell development. Kobe - means tortoise Neo - it means gift in one of the African languages and new in English so it ends up meaning "new gift". Released captives are found in areas such as the southwestern Cape and the former Transkei, adjacent KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho, from which they are historically absent. Their daily diet should consist primarily of timothy grass or hay. The rule of thumb is to offer a quantity of roughly the size of the tortoise's shell. The South African tortoise book: a guide to South African tortoises, terrapins and turtles. Make its enclosure like its natural habitat. Biodiversity Science, Report complaints on environmental and/or social harms and gender discrimination arising from SANBI’s activities. Being relatively long-lived animals, they can reach an age of up to 100 years under normal conditions. It needs to be fenced-in to help the tortoise feel secure and to protect it from predators. Leopard tortoises are not considered threatened as there is no evidence of range contractions or local extinctions. It is still legal to breed and own captive, domestic leopard tortoises. Leopard tortoise, mountain tortoise (Eng. They push into thick bush to escape the heat of the day. When mating, the male makes grunting vocalizations. They need a large living space, protection from cool temperatures, and a varied, nutritious diet. These foods can damage a tortoise's kidneys.

Nesting occurs between May and October when the female digs a hole and lays a clutch of 5 to 30 eggs. Spot clean the tortoise's indoor or outdoor enclosure by removing visible pet wastes, and clean out its water dish daily. Tel: +27 (0)12 843 5000

Geographically the maximum adult size of these tortoises varies. Once the female accepts the advances of the male, mounting will take place. Scientific Name: Stigmochelys pardal, Stigmochelys pardalis pardalis, Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki, Adult Size: 10 and 18 inches long, weighing 40 to 50 pounds. Change and clean its water pan daily and replenish it with filtered water. Read about SANBI’s two Plants of the Week, Find out more about South Africa’s extraordinarily rich and diverse plant life as SANBI’s horticulturists and botanists highlight two new […], Gargaphia decoris, the bugweed lace bug, is originally from Brazil and Argentina in South America.

The male will grip the female’s carapace by using his forelimbs and the concave plastron assists to keep him in position. [5], Widely distributed across the arid and savanna regions of eastern and southern Africa, extending from South Sudan and Somalia, across East Africa to South Africa and Namibia.

Leopard Tortoise Behavior and Temperament, This is the Best Way to House Your Tortoise Indoors, 100 Perfect Names for Your Pet Turtle or Tortoise, Cherry Head Red-Footed Tortoise: Species Profile, Sulcata Tortoise (African Spurred Tortoise): Species Profile, Respiratory Infections in Turtles and Tortoises, The 9 Best Bearded Dragon Supplies of 2020, Housing Tortoises Indoors and Building Custom Enclosures. Conservation status and what the future holds. Change the newspaper liner frequently. Never feed dog food, cat food, or any other animal protein to your leopard tortoise. The attractively marked leopard tortoise is the largest species of tortoise in southern Africa. Getty Images / Science Photo Library Ltd. These animals need hot temperatures year-round and have no tolerance for the cold. Check moisture levels with a hygrometer or humidity gauge placed inside the cage. Class: Reptilia The largest zoo in the country and the only one with national status. More research is in progress to ascertain if S. pardalis contains cryptic species. Copulation is a noisy affair, and is often accompanied by grunts, groans, gasps and wheezes from the male. Home range size varies considerably according to the availability of food and shelter as well as the sex of the animal; females have larger home ranges than males possibly to find resources for egg production and suitable egg laying sites. At the southern and northern extremes of the range leopard tortoises are larger in mesic habitats. Karoo Desert NBG The antiquity of African tortoises. Captive leopard tortoises are incredibly susceptible to respiratory infections.