Pancake Tortoise
ExploreReptiles
Pancake Tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
The Pancake Tortoise has a flat, pancake-like shell! They are unique and love to hide in rocks and crevices.
Habitat: Rocky areas
Appearance
The Pancake Tortoise has an unusually flat, oval-shaped shell, typically light brown to tan with irregular dark markings. Its flexible carapace, distinct from the dome-shaped shells of other tortoises, allows it to squeeze into narrow rock crevices. It often has yellow or cream markings on its plastron.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyTestudinidaeGenusMalacochersus
Category
ReptilesRarity
Epic
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its unique shell is so flexible, it can actually feel soft to the touch, unlike most tortoises!
Pancake Tortoises are among the fastest-moving tortoise species, despite their small size.
These tortoises often live in small communities, sharing rock shelters with several other Pancake Tortoises.
When threatened, it can inflate its body with air, wedging itself even tighter into rock crevices.
Special abilities
Ability
Wedge Power
Pancake Tortoises can squeeze into impossibly tight rock cracks because their flat, flexible shell compresses, making them impossible to extract.
Ability
Agile Escape
Pancake Tortoises are surprisingly quick and agile, scrambling over rocks and through crevices that helps them escape predators swiftly.
Ability
Crevice Climber
Pancake Tortoises can climb steep, rocky surfaces using strong claws and their unique shell shape that helps them grip and wedge for stability.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 15-18 cm
- Weight
- 0.2-0.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 20-35 years
- Top Speed
- 0.3 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 1-2
- Incubation
- 120-220 days
Diet & Feeding
Eats mostly leafy plants, grasses, and dried vegetation from its arid home.
Primary Foods
- grasses
- leaves
- succulent plants
- dried plant matter
- flowers
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
Eagles are a key predator of young tortoises in their habitat.
eaten by
Black-backed Jackal
Canis mesomelas
Jackals can predate on adult and young tortoises.
eats
Red Oat Grass
Themeda triandra
A common grass in their East African savanna habitat.
eats
Secund Aloe
Aloe secunda
Succulent leaves provide moisture in arid environments.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Armored
Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
Flat Tortoise
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Pancake Tortoise?
15-18 cm
How much does Pancake Tortoise weigh?
0.2-0.5 kg
How long does Pancake Tortoise live?
20-35 years
How fast can Pancake Tortoise move?
0.3 km/h
What does Pancake Tortoise eat?
Eats mostly leafy plants, grasses, and dried vegetation from its arid home.
Where is Pancake Tortoise usually found?
Rocky areas
How does Pancake Tortoise hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Pancake Tortoise lay?
1-2
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