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

Pancake Tortoise

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

Pancake Tortoises can squeeze into impossibly tight rock cracks because their flat, flexible shell compresses, making them impossible to extract.

Pancake Tortoises are surprisingly quick and agile, scrambling over rocks and through crevices that helps them escape predators swiftly.

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

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!