AnimalsSavanna
Leopard tortoise Fun facts for kids
Stigmochelys pardalis
The leopard tortoise lives in grasslands of eastern and southern Africa and eats grass, plants and fruit.
- Where it lives
- in grasslands of eastern and southern Africa
- What it eats
- grass, plants and fruit
- How big it is
- bigger and heavier than a cat
Fun facts about the leopard tortoise
The ones Sammy likes best. She tells them in the game, too.
To make its shell strong, it sometimes chews on old bones or even hyena poo!
Unlike many tortoises, it can float and paddle in water while holding its head up.
Its eggs can take more than a whole year to hatch, one of the longest waits of any reptile.
It is not good at digging deep holes, so it hides in holes dug by jackals or aardvarks.
When it is scared, it pulls into its shell and covers its face with its scaly front legs.
Its shell has black spots, just like a leopard's coat, and that is how it got its name.
It can live for a very long time, sometimes around 100 years!
Its shell is tall and round like a dome, so hungry animals find it hard to bite.
Riddle
Can a friend guess it?
Read the clues to someone, one at a time, without saying the animal. How many clues do they need? Fewer is better, just like in the game.
I live in the grasslands of Africa and spend my days munching on grass.
Sometimes I chew on old bones, or even hyena poo, to grow strong.
I'm not good at digging deep holes, so I hide in holes that jackals or aardvarks dug.
My eggs can take more than a whole year to hatch.
My tall, round shell is covered in black spots, just like the coat of a big spotted cat.
Sammy might be thinking of a leopard tortoise.
In Thought Zoo, Sammy picks an animal and you ask her yes-or-no questions to find it. You'll find the leopard tortoise in the Savanna adventure.
Play the SavannaComing to iPad, iPhone and Android on 12 January 2027
