Interesting Facts about the Leopard Tortoise

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Interesting Facts about the Leopard Tortoise
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Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is the
fourth largest species of tortoises in the world
and there's a lot more to know about it besides.
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• Leopard tortoise is a member of the "Little 5"
  group (along with rhino beetle, red-billed
  buffalo weaver, elephant shrew and ant lion).
• 2) The name leopard tortoise can be attributed to
  the black spots on its shell, which resemble
  those of a leopard to significant extent.

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• 3) Leopard tortoise can reach 16-28 inches in
  length and 40-120 pounds of weight.
• 4) Captive leopard tortoises can live for 75
  years.

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• 5) Leopard tortoises can stay underwater for as
  long as 10 minutes.
• 6) The gender of a tortoise hatchling depends on
  the temperature at which the egg is incubated.
  Lower temperature (26-31 degrees of Celsius)
  results in development of males, and higher
  temperature (31-34 degrees) in development of
  females.

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• 7) The leopard tortoise eats plant matter, but
  also old hyena scat (coprophagia). They also
  consume small amounts of old bones to obtain
  calcium that keeps shell in good condition.
• 8) Leopard tortoises are the only tortoise which
  does not have a nuchal shield, which is a
  protective cute above the neck. This means the
  leopard tortoise is the only member of the family
  that can raise its head, and is the only member
  that can swim.

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American Tortoise Rescue 30765 Pacific Coast
Hwy Malibu, California, 90265 310-589-5521

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