Pardalis

The Leopard Tortoise is exclusively herbivorous. Its diet consists of a wide variety of plants, including herbaceous plants, thistles, grasses and succulents. It sometimes gnaws on bones (or even droppings) from hyenas to obtain the calcium necessary for the development of its bones and the shells of its eggs. Seeds can pass through the intestine without being digested, so the Leopard Tortoise plays an important role in seed dispersal. Normally active during the day, it is less so in hot weather or during the dry season.

The Leopard Tortoise is the fourth largest tortoise species in the world, with adults typically reaching 40 cm in length and 13 kg. Adults tend to be larger at the northern and southern extremes of their range, typically weighing up to 20 kg there and exceptionally reaching 70 cm in length and 40 kg. The carapace is high and domed with steep, almost vertical sides. Juveniles and young adults are decorated with black marbling, spots, dashes or stripes on a yellow background. In mature adults, the markings tend to fade to become brown or gray. The head and limbs are uniformly colored in yellow, beige or brown. Example of a weight curve of a Leopard Tortoise.