Malacochersus tornieri

Pancake Tortoise

Distribution: Kenya and Tanzania.

Empire Stock: WC LTC and CBR.

Size: Up to 17 cm.

Habitat: Arid scrub with rock outcroppings (kopjes).

Diet: Grasses, romaine, dandelion. Edible Plants

Sexing: Males have longer thicker tails than females.

Breeding: One, sometimes two eggs laid at a time. Can lay more than one clutch a year. Eggs should be incubated at low humidity.

Notes: They are fast, for a tortoise, and surprisingly good climbers. 

Care Sheets: CTTC , WCT

Low profile tortoise.

Some of the pattern variation possible.

Female Pancake nesting.

Hatching Pancakes.

Suggested Reading

Ewert, M., et al. 2004. Sex Determination and Ontogeny in Malacochersus tornieri, the Pancake Tortoise. Journal of Herpetology 38(2): 291-295.