Pancake tortoise

Malacochersus tornieri

The tortoise ( Malacochersus tornieri ) is a small-growing, native to Africa tortoise. It is the only species in the genus Malacochersus.

Appearance

The animal reaches a length of 15-20 centimeters. What is striking is her very shallow for a tortoise shell that is still thin and flexible even in the adult animal. He is so thin that even the breathing movements of this turtle are visible.

The carapace is brown to yellowish and has clearly visible concentric growth rings. He often has a very eye-catching, but sometimes inconspicuous permanent radiating pattern. The plastron is without any color markings. Because of the shallow tank the tortoise can not feed their yellow-brown, triangular head. The legs are also equipped tawny and sharp claws. At the front legs some scales are particularly strong and enlarged.

Dissemination

The tortoise is found in the East African countries of Tanzania and Kenya. She is a resident of rocky, dry and overgrown with thorny plant areas, the so-called bush savannah. Here it usually occurs in the so-called kopjes. These are isolated rocky hill, which are characteristic of this landscape area. The turtle has a front height distribution of up to 1800 meters above sea level. But also occurs in lowlands, which are only 50 meters above sea level.

Way of life

The tortoise eats only vegetable, mainly eats succulents. Since the tank against predators offers no protection, flees the turtle. Due to their flat armor they can retreat into narrow crevices ( German name) and anchored by the swelling of the lungs so tightly that it can be pulled out from its hiding place hardly. Columns turtles can also climb well.