The Pancake Tortoise - Malacochersus Tornieri
December 13, 2006
The pancake tortoise is one of the most unusual species of tortoises. The pancake tortoise, unlike the entire tortoise species, has a very flattened shell. There are many species of tortoises in the world, but the pancake is least like any other. There are obvious characteristics about the pancake tortoise. Their flattened shell is merely one small sacrifice from having a very hard highly, domed shell common to all the other species. The pancake tortoise not only has a very flattened shell, but a very soft-top shell (carapace) and bottom shell (plastron). There is only one purpose for the soft shell; it is their main defense against predators - birds, lizards, and mammals. When a pancake tortoise is threatened, they squeeze between rock layers and shelves on the rocky mountaintops abroad the Kenyan and Tanzanian landscapes.
Pancake tortoises are a very interesting species given that their shell is so flat, but their breeding habits are also unique. Pancakes live in fairly high rocky, mountainous hills and come down into rock basins to breed during the breeding season. They then make their way back up the rocky mountaintops and hillsides. There are very few regions that have large populations of Pancakes in their natural habitat.
Because the Pancakes are very keen on hiding and keeping away from predators and humans, it is hard to establish accurate natural records of their populations, main breeding behavior, and wild husbandry.
View pictures of our pancake tortoises.
Posted on December 13, 2006 in Pancake Tortoise | Link | Comments (0)