At a Glance
The Pancake Tortoise’s strategy for protection is to be as flat as a pancake, but to move fast when the time comes! It has a flat and flexible shell which allows it to wedge itself into crevices between rocks. This unusual defense strategy, coupled with its unique shell, makes it one of the most distinctive tortoises in the world.
Pancake Tortoises live in dry thorn scrub, savannah and rocky outcrops that are called kojpes, where they primarily eat herbs, succulents, flowers and even the occasional beetle. The tortoises are homebodies, usually not venturing far from the crevices where they live. They tend to be more active and eat in the mornings, retreat to their homes during the afternoon and bask in the sun during the early evening. The females typically lay between one and two eggs between June and August, at the beginning of the rainy season.
The biggest threat to Pancake Tortoises is the illegal pet trade. The tortoises are sought after because of their unusual shells.
At a glance
Taxa
Reptiles
Geography
Tanzania; Kenya; possibly Zambia
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Kopjes in savannah grasslands
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Illegal collection for pet trade
Potential Recovery Actions
National policy development; illegal trade law enforcement; captive breeding; reintroduction
