Panther tortoise or leopard tortoise. Leopard tortoise Leopard tortoise
An adult individual can weigh about 20 kg with a shell length of 40-50 cm.
IN South Africa, where is located National Park elephants, there lived a male panther tortoise named Jack. The weight of this individual reached 43 kg and had a length of 65.6 cm. Today it is the largest representative of panther turtles. He passed away in 1976 because he died while stuck in his hole.
These turtles have weakly expressed secondary sexual characteristics. To determine the sex of a turtle, it must be turned over. Males have longer tails and a dent can be seen on the plastron. Males have a tall, dome-shaped carapace with a pattern, and the scutes have smooth edges. The color of the carapace is sandy-yellow and is the basic color for all representatives of panther turtles. Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark brown, almost black, pattern. On the carapace one can distinguish several rectangles with common center. As the turtle grows, the drawing becomes matte, and the rectangles take on irregular shapes. Turtles living in Ethiopia are distinguished by slightly noticeable pigmentation of their shells.
Geochelone pardalis pardalis is a carapace that has a flat top and low set.
Geochelone pardalis babcocki is a dome-shaped carapace with a high position.
They live in semi-arid places, dry highlands and savannas with dense vegetation. This is the territory of Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia in a southerly direction through eastern Africa, closer to South Africa, and along west coast, from South Africa northwards through Namibia, closer to Angola. If necessary, this type of turtle is capable of climbing to mountainous areas up to heights of 1800-2000 m. Turtles living in the mountains are larger than those living on the plain.
During hot periods, they hide in burrows suitable for their size.
The diet of turtles is based on various herbs. Their portion should be from 70 to 75% of the daily diet. At the same time, they happily eat various fruits, fruits or vegetables. They can crawl into crop fields and eat legumes, pumpkins or watermelons. When kept in captivity, it is not recommended to give a panther tortoise a lot of juicy fruits or vegetables, as they may have stomach problems. For wintering, the turtle needs dried grass.
All types of turtles, including panthers, need calcium, exclusively in at a young age. Under natural conditions, they replenish calcium by eating the bones of dead animals and feeding on hyena feces. When kept in captivity, calcium supplements (Repto-Cal) are added to the turtle's diet, and an ultraviolet spectrum lamp is also installed. When it is warm outside, the turtle needs to be taken out into the fresh air, providing it with sunbathing. If the turtle is provided with the right diet and regularly irradiated with ultraviolet light, then the pet will always be healthy and its shell will be attractive.
It is not recommended to feed these turtles a lot of meat. Excess protein nutrition can cause turtles to grow excessively and also affect the functioning of the kidneys and liver. This also applies to protein-rich plant foods. Not only do they have a lot of protein, they have virtually no phosphorus and calcium.
Around the age of 12-15 years, panther tortoises can reach sexual maturity. When kept in captivity, this period can begin as early as 6-8 years, because in captivity they grow faster than in natural conditions. When they reach a size of 20-25 cm, females and males are ready for reproduction. Males differ more long tail and an elongated shell shape.
From September to October, when their mating season begins, males actively begin to fight for females. Tournaments between males continue until one of them ends up lying on his back. Large females are capable of attacking both males and females, ramming them with their shells.
Somewhere in September-October, females begin to lay eggs. Closer to the equatorial part of their habitat, the breeding season has a longer period. The eggs have a strong shell and weigh approximately 55 g, with a length of about 2-2.5 cm. The clutch can contain from 5 to 30 spherical eggs. In one season, a female can lay eggs 3 or more times. There is a known case when a female kept in captivity laid eggs 6 times, and their number was 52 pieces. If there are a lot of eggs, then the females lay them in several layers, with each layer separated by earth. Typically, the incubation period lasts from 130 to 150 days at a temperature of 26-31°C and low humidity. In nature, this period lasts from 189 days to 440 days.
To keep a panther tortoise in captivity, you need to have a terrarium that is not small in size so that the tortoise feels comfortable. As a rule, it is made of wood or durable glass. The inside of the terrarium should be dry, and the bottom should be covered with prepared wood shavings, wood chips, coconut chips or a mixture of sand, peat and gravel. The humidity level should not be high and should be at the level of 35-40%. If the terrarium is small, the turtle may suffer from lack of exercise. The dimensions should be as follows: for 3 individuals of leopard tortoises, already adults, you will need a pen measuring 2x2 m for rest and 4x7 m for active life.
At the same time, there must be certain equipment in the pens, which must be securely secured. The equipment you need is a shallow drinking bowl, large enough for the turtle to fully climb into it. The temperature in the place where the turtle is kept is maintained at +28-32°C during the day and +22-26°C at night. The panther tortoise can easily tolerate temperatures down to +15°C. For its normal development, you will need a powerful ultraviolet lamp, which will promote proper shell growth. Along with irradiation, calcium supplements must be added to the feed.
Additionally
Panther tortoises can live up to 50 years, and some specimens live up to 75 years.
Bell, 1828
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DescriptionA large turtle, the length of its shell reaches 70 cm. The weight of an adult individual can be 50 kg. Males differ from females in having a longer tail, and there is a depression on their plastron. The leopard tortoise's shell is high and dome-shaped. Its main color is sandy yellow. Young turtles have a distinct dark brown, almost black, pattern on their shell scutes. With age it gradually smoothes out. Panther tortoises from Ethiopia have weaker shell pigmentation than all others. Distribution and habitatThe leopard tortoise's range spans Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia to the southern tip of the continent. ReproductionDuring the mating season (from September to October), males fight for females, trying to knock the opponent onto his back. One observer reported that large females can attack turtles of both sexes by ramming them with their shells. During the mating process, the male extends his neck, lowering his head towards the female, and at the same time makes loud hoarse sounds. In the Southern Hemisphere, egg laying occurs in September-October, and at the equator the breeding season is more extended. The eggs are spherical in shape, with a thick shell, diameter - 2.5-5 cm. The clutch contains from 5 to 30 eggs. At large quantities The female can lay eggs in several layers, separated from each other by soil. The duration of incubation in nature is from 180 days, and under unfavorable conditions up to 440. Subspecies
Leopard tortoises are kept in terrariums or pens with low air humidity (35-40%). A dry mixture of gravel and peat is suitable as a soil. Temperature - 23-30°C during the day and 20-25°C at night. To stimulate reproduction, it is useful to temporarily reduce the temperature to 15°C. Incubation of eggs at a temperature of 27°C lasts 125-180 days, at more low temperatures it can take up to 230 days. The oldest captive panther tortoise lived to be 75 years old. IllustrationsGeochelone pardalis.jpg Geochelone pardalis01.jpg Geochelone pardalis02.jpg Leopard Tortoise.JPG Leopard-tortoise-1.jpg Leotortoise2.jpg Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki.jpg Write a review on the article "Leopard tortoise"NotesLiterature
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Excerpt characterizing the Leopard tortoiseMagdalena with her children - daughter Radomir with her children - son Svetodar and daughter Vestaand son. Stained glass from the Church of St. Nazar, Lemoux, Languedoc, France (St. Nazare, Lemoux, Langedoc) On these wonderful stained glass windows Radomir and Magdalena with their children - their son Svetodar and daughter Vesta. Also, here you can see another very interesting detail - the clergyman standing next to Radomir is dressed in a Catholic uniform church, which two thousand years ago in no way could have been maybe. It appeared among priests only in the 11th-12th centuries. Which, again, proves the birth of Jesus-Radomir only in the 11th century. I nodded in agreement to North. Radomir, anticipating his ambulance His thoughts flew far, far away, plunging into ancient, hidden memories covered with the ashes of centuries. And an amazing story began... This stained glass window depicts Magdalene – Do you remember, Isidora, I told you that Jesus Radomir never had anything to do with the false teaching he is shouting about? Christian church? It was completely opposite to what Jesus himself taught, and then Magdalene. They taught people real KNOWLEDGE, taught them what we taught them here in Meteora... |
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The panther or leopard tortoise (lat. Stigmochelys pardalis) belongs to the family Testudinidae. IN last years gained popularity pet in many countries. This cute, peaceful creature impresses with its size. The largest specimen kept in captivity weighed almost 50 kg, and its carapace length exceeded 70 cm.
Spreading
The species is widespread throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. There are two subspecies: South African (S.p. pardalis) and East African (S.p. babcocki). The first one has a lighter plastron, and the second one is slightly darker top part bodies. Reptiles live in dry semi-deserts, thorny bush and savannahs. They are found both in flat lowlands and in mountainous areas at altitudes up to 3000 m above sea level. Adapted to life in conditions of low humidity, for example, in the Kalahari, where the annual rainfall is no more than 100 mm.
The animal becomes attached to its place of residence and is extremely reluctant to change it.
It does not form home ranges, sharing territory with its fellows. The land is in common ownership, and one individual can feed on 480 hectares, but usually feeding occurs on a much smaller area. The love for long walks in search of food is more typical of females than of males. 
Nutrition
This species feeds mainly on grass and dry parts of plants. Can get by on hay alone. Loves thistles, sedges, lilies, various succulents, in particular cacti. The fig prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) is especially loved. About 75% of the diet consists of the fleshy leaves of hyacinths, Cynodon dactylon and Malva sylvestris. A gluttonous creature will not refuse to eat fruits or vegetables. In zoos, it readily eats melons, watermelons, pumpkins, cereals and legumes.
The need for calcium and other minerals is met in the wild by eating old weathered bones and feces of other mammals.
Living in arid regions, reptiles have learned to use moisture sparingly and accumulate it in large quantities in the body. 
Behavior
Reptiles lead a leisurely, measured lifestyle. Activity occurs in the morning and evening. During the midday heat, they prefer to stay cool, hiding in rock crevices, tree hollows, termite mounds, abandoned burrows or pits. If the heat is too intense, they can stay in them until the rains come, falling into a state close to hibernation. Optimal daytime temperature for them lies within the range of 28°-40°C, and nighttime is not lower than 21°C.
When starved of food, the reptile can make multi-day journeys in search of suitable pasture.
The approach of predators causes her to have an instinctive reflex to hide her head and limbs under her shell. An effective means of repelling them is the gland located at the tail, which emits a sharp and unpleasant odor. Outside mating season Panther tortoises are tolerant of each other, females can graze nearby, and males do not start fights. Most of them are still convinced hermits and do not feel the desire to closely communicate with their own kind. 
Reproduction
Males ready to breed lose their balance and become aggressive towards competitors. They tend to hit them hard in the sides with their sides like rams and bite them on the limbs. In a state of extreme excitement, gentlemen pose a danger even to ladies, seeing them as vile rivals out of inertia. At such moments, beauties have to hide their heads and legs so as not to suffer innocently from their heated lover. The onset of mating season can vary depending on region and climate, but in most cases occurs in the summer. A male searching for his other half makes rhythmic, coughing, hoarse sounds. When mating, he screams even louder. In the second half of summer, the female digs a small hole with a flat bottom in the sand or soft soil with her hind legs and lays an average of 5-18 (maximum 30) white, hard-shelled, round or oval eggs. In one season, she is capable of making 3-6 clutches within 25-30 days.
The duration of incubation is subject to significant fluctuations and can range from 178 to 458 days.
Babies hatch most often in March or April. They are about 5 cm long and have a semicircular dorsal shell. They are born completely ready for independent existence and feed on plant foods. At the initial stage, juveniles need cooler and more humid habitats than their older comrades. If for adult reptiles real threat Besides humans, only lions and hyenas are represented, then the younger generation has many enemies. The eggs are dug up and eaten by monitor lizards, domestic and feral dogs, and other mammals. 
Young turtles become easy prey for birds of prey, storks, ostriches, rats and even ants and termites. They become sexually mature when the length of the carapace reaches 20-25 cm.
Relationships with people
Leopard tortoises on the African continent are considered primarily valuable by the local population. food product. All their organs are widely used in folk medicine and for conducting magical rituals. Juveniles with attractive colors are caught and sold to foreign tourists. Although official annual quotas for the export of this species from African continent in total they do not exceed 4-5 thousand individuals; in fact, much more of them are exported.
Every year, more than 500 turtles leave the borders of Ethiopia alone.
Most of them die on the road, unable to withstand the horror of transportation. Surviving specimens have a whole bunch of diseases. Their respiratory organs are often affected, bone structure deformations and skin damage are observed. Farmers see them as malicious pests of farmland and try to destroy them at every possible opportunity. Many of them die near wire fences through which electric current is passed. In Africa, in a number of countries, there are farms where leopard tortoises are raised, mainly for export to the USA and the EU, where there has been an increased demand for them in recent years. Largest number farmed animals are supplied to international market from Kenya and Tanzania.
Keeping a 30-kilogram reptile at home is, of course, a pleasant activity, but requires large financial outlays to provide it with comfortable conditions accommodation. 
One adult animal ideally requires a terrarium with an area of at least 20 square meters. m, walking yard with solar lighting of 100 sq. m and access to a heated greenhouse. In all these mansions it is necessary to maintain an air temperature of about 30°C. The floor is sprinkled with large wood shavings or a mixture of sand and small pebbles. With a smaller living space, lack of movement causes a sharp weakening of muscles and loss of appetite. In the summer, you should grow various herbs to feed your pet in the exercise yard to satisfy its fiber needs. Millet, dandelions, plantain, lettuce and thistle are planted for it. Additionally, leaves of trees and shrubs, such as hibiscus, mulberry and pear, are fed.
In winter, hay (regular and in granules), geranium, tradescantia and succulent plants (cacti, crassula, Kalanchoe, etc.) are introduced into the diet. Vegetables and fruits common in Europe can be fed in very limited quantities, especially cabbage leaves. Dairy products and any baking is strictly prohibited. The lack of calcium is compensated for by crushed eggshells, shells and sepia (a coloring matter from ink sacs). sea mollusks). Be sure to have fresh drinking water. To stimulate the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium, it is necessary to illuminate living areas with ultraviolet lamps.
Description
Adults have a convex dorsal shell, 30-50 cm long and weighing about 30 kg. The main color background is beige or light brown. The characteristic dark spots and stripes resemble the color of a leopard's skin. The plastron is light, with small darkish spots. 
The head and legs are yellow, yellow-brown or light brown with dark spots. The front paws are covered with large horny scales. In young turtles, the center of the carapace is ivory-colored, which darkens as they mature. Their roundish spots have a reddish-brown or black edge. Secondary sexual characteristics are clearly expressed. In males, the root of the tail is very thick, the carapace is elongated, and the plastron is slightly concave. Females are larger and have especially powerful claws on their hind legs, adapted for digging a nest. The lifespan of a leopard tortoise in the wild is 40-50 years. In zoos, she can live up to 75 years. In Africa, its dimensions are second only to .
WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. This article was produced by 22 people, including anonymously, to edit and improve it.
Leopard tortoise (official name African leopard tortoise - Geochelone Pardalis) can grow up to 61 cm and weigh up to 32 kilograms, subject to proper maintenance and good heredity. They are wonderful pets and can live up to 80 years if their health is taken care of throughout their life. When purchasing a turtle, it is very important to monitor its health to ensure it has a long, happy life.
Steps
- By domestic we mean not wild, not necessarily in a cage, and in no case caught from wildlife– see “Warnings” below.
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Create a natural outdoor environment – If you live in a warm, dry climate like the one described above, you will probably want to create a natural environment for your tortoise by building an outdoor, fenced enclosure for your new pet. (This is a topic for a separate article)
Create a natural environment at home – Do not use an aquarium as there is not enough horizontal surface for the turtle to move around. A good place to start is a large pen or terrarium, at least 2'x2" with smooth horizontal walls of at least 12', so that your turtle does not try to escape or accidentally fall out. Cover the bottom of the pen with clean paper (newspaper is the cheapest), pour a layer of substrate on top, using branches, soft sand and dry grass. You can place a few rocks for your turtle to bask on. You should definitely place something like an empty log or other shelter, like a grotto, where the turtle can hide from outside world when she needs it. It is very important to provide suitable temperature and lighting. (this is described below in the next step)
Provide the right diet – wild leopard tortoises eat mostly grass. For pet turtles, you need to choose a mixture of herbs. Leaves and straw work best. Many people successfully feed their pets garden timothy. Some people pick up young spring leaves and grass. However, be careful with vegetables: too much wet food can lead to digestive upset and extremely soft, foul-smelling stools. It's great to grow weeds and wild plants in your yard that your tortoise prefers, such as clover, dandelions, weeds, etc.
Find the right temperature and lighting - your tortoise will need two main light sources for light and warmth. For daylight you should buy a UVB lamp (100 watt) to simulate sunlight. Also try to provide natural light to your pet whenever possible. For night lighting, use a 60-watt infrared lamp to keep the terrarium warm. To maintain a stable temperature in the terrarium, you can set timers on the lamps so that they turn on and off automatically. The average temperature should be 37.7 degrees Celsius. It should never fall below 21 degrees and above 37.7. Use a small disk thermometer to continuously monitor the temperature. Set the necessary timers and lamp voltage.
Choose the right supplements – Mazuri Turtle Food is a good dietary supplement. Mazuri was developed for Galapagos tortoises, but many tortoise owners find that it works great for other species as well. Turtles need a lot of calcium and minerals as they are constantly growing. Babies need calcium and vitamin D3 supplements daily, adults - a little less often.
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Provide companionship – Turtles are solitary creatures in the wild, but they don't mind a little attention every now and then, especially as they get older. Accustom your turtle to communication from childhood - pick it up carefully and place it in your palm. Don't knock on the shell or yell at her to get in - this will only scare her. Instead, let her come out on her own when she's ready. Over time, the turtle will grow and understand that you are feeding and caring for it, and will begin to eat from your hand, and sometimes even allow itself to be petted.
- The leopard tortoise is strictly a herbivore, so it should not be given meat, dairy products or other protein foods.
- As your turtle grows, you will need a terrarium. bigger size, so it’s worth thinking about this before getting a turtle. You must think ahead about providing the necessary conditions for the turtle throughout its life.
- If you have a tortoise, you need to find someone who can care for it in the event of your death and include this in your will so that your pet can live happily even if you are gone.
- Leopard tortoises are not the best pets for beginners or children because they require a lot of care and a calm, stress-free life.
Warnings
- No iceberg lettuce! Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value and is not an acceptable food source for your turtle.
- Never leave your pet outdoors on a cold night and never let his enclosure get too cold. Turtles are very susceptible to respiratory diseases and can easily die from hypothermia.
- Turtles are very slow, but when scared they can run quite fast. You may want to make your turtle run because it looks funny. Do not do that. Their little hearts may not be able to bear it; it is very difficult for turtles to run for their lives. It creates too much stress.
- Some turtle food packages indicate that they are suitable for box turtles. This does not mean that they are suitable for a leopard tortoise, since box turtles They are omnivores and eat both vegetables and meat.
- Do not knock on the shell or terrarium. This really irritates them.
- Never catch turtles (or any other animal) from the wild. This is cruel and inhumane, and such animals often carry bacteria and diseases that can infect your pets.
- If possible, avoid purchasing your turtle online or from resellers. This way, you will not be able to properly inspect the animal, and the transportation process will cause stress for the pet even before you receive it.
- In South Africa, keeping any wild tortoise (including leopard tortoise) in captivity without a license from the conservation authority is illegal.
Buy a healthy turtle – If you know a reputable pet store that specializes in reptiles, you can purchase a turtle there. However, it would be even better to contact a turtle breeder and purchase your pet directly from them. You can also buy a turtle at a reptile show. In any case, you should carefully examine your pet before purchasing. Make sure your turtle's eyes are clear and shiny (not cloudy and filmy) and that his stool is not very runny. Don't pick up a turtle from the street.
Create natural conditions– The leopard tortoise lives in South African latitudes with an arid or semi-arid climate. She prefers areas where there is a lot of grass growing. You should try to recreate this type of habitat for your pet turtle.
