The Leopard Tortoise lives in southern and eastern Africa.It is the Biggest land tortoise in South Africa, weighing as much as 23 kg with a shell length of up to 400mm or almost a metre if measured over the high-domed carapace.
Its name is derived from the dorsal plates which are spotted and blotched black on a yellow background. Juveniles are more brightly marked than adults.
These large lumbering animals are mainly vegetarian, feeding on grasses and herbs, although they are known to chew on bones.
They have a restricted home range which may be as much as two kilometres in diameter.
Winter is spent hibernating in holes or under logs where many are unfortunately killed by veld fires.
The male has a rather unusual mating dance, he buffets the female with his hard shell for hours on end. This is accompanied by loud grunts and eventually by almost a roar during mating.
