These reptiles get their name from the large cat, as they are yellow with black spots, resembling a leopard. The spots are more distinct in young leopard tortoises and may spread out or fade as they age. Leopard tortoises living in forest habitats maintain spots to blend in with dappled sunlight and shade, while those in open habitats have a more even color tone to match the surrounding grasses.
Leopard tortoises are found in diverse habitats, including semi-desert regions, savannas, evergreen forests, and coastal thickets. They range across East and Southern sub-Saharan Africa and are among the largest tortoises alive today. Female leopard tortoises can weigh up to 110 pounds, with an average weight of less than half of this.
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They typically measure about 20 inches across their shell as adults, but the largest females can reach two and a half feet long. When they hatch, leopard tortoises are only about two inches long and are vulnerable to predators such as small carnivores, monitor lizards, and snakes. Once they reach about 8 inches in length, they are generally safe from most predators, including hyenas and lions.
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Leopard tortoises face threats from poaching, roadkill, and fires, which endanger their populations. When they reach 8 inches in length, they also reach reproductive age. Male leopard tortoises fight by ramming into each other to establish dominance, while females dig their own nests to lay their eggs. The eggs take eight months to over a year to hatch, and the female may lay multiple clutches throughout the year.
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Leopard tortoises are believed to live for decades in the wild, and they are considered solitary and territorial. During colder parts of the year, they enter a low-activity state, but it's not exactly hibernation. Their diet consists of plant material, including fruits, succulents, herbs, and even carrion. They also consume bones to obtain calcium.
