You are here » home › advanced search › Stigmochelys pardalis

Stigmochelys pardalis (BELL, 1828)

IUCN Red List - Stigmochelys pardalis - Least Concern, LC
iNaturalist logo

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Stigmochelys pardalis?

Add your own observation of
Stigmochelys pardalis »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaTestudinidae, Testudinoidea, Testudines (turtles)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Leopard Tortoise 
SynonymTestudo pardalis BELL 1828
Testudo pardalis — BELL 1836-1842
Testudo biguttata CUVIER 1829 (nomen nudum)
Testudo bipunctata GRAY 1831 (ex errore)
Testudo armata BOIE (nomen nudum) in GRAY 1831
Testudo pardalis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1835: 71
Testudo pardalis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854: 220
Testudo pardalis — SOWERBY 1872
Testudo pardalis pardalis — LOVERIDGE 1935
Testudo pardalis babcocki LOVERIDGE 1935: 4
Testudo pardalis babcocki — LOVERIDGE 1953: 158
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — SWEENEY 1960
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — GANS & LAURENT 1965
Testudo pardalis babcocki — LANZA 1966
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — PIENAAR 1978
Geochelone (Centrochelys) pardalis — BOUR 1980
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — AUERBACH 1987: 67
Geochelone pardalis — ERNST & BARBOUR 1989: 248
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — RÖDEL 1990
Geochelone pardalis babcocki — BROADLEY & HOWELL 1991: 8
Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki — BOUR 2002
Stigmochelys pardalis — BOUR 2002
Stigmochelys pardalis pardalis — BOUR 2002
Stigmochelys pardalis — VALVERDE 2005
Geochelone pardalis — VINKE & VINKE 2005
Psammobates pardalis — LE et al. 2006
Geochelone pardalis — CIMATTI 2006
Stigmochelys (Geochelone) pardalis — BONIN et al 2006
Stigmochelys pardalis —BÖTTCHER 2007
Stigmochelys pardalis pardalis — FRITZ & HAVAS 2007
Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki — FRITZ & HAVAS 2007
Stigmochelys pardalis — FRITZ & BININDA-EMONDS 2007
Geochelone pardalis — LARGEN & SPAWLS 2010: 650
Stigmochelys pardalis — RHODIN et al. 2010
Stigmochelys pardalis — SPAWLS et al. 2018: 28
Stygmochelis pardalis — LOBÓN-ROVIRA et al. 2022 (in error)
Stigmochelys pardalis — STANDER 2023: 241
Stigmochelys pardalis — TTWG 2025 
DistributionS Sudan (Jumhūriyyat), Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Angola, (Namibia, Mozambique,
Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana ?), Eswatini (Swaziland), Zambia

babcocki: Namibia, Uganda, Somalia; Type locality: Mount Debasien, Karamoja, Uganda;

Type locality: "Promont. Bonae Spei" (= Cape of Good Hope), Cape Province, Republic of South Africa.  
Reproductionoviparous. 
TypesTypes: unlocated; originally in the Bell Collection, part of which was later donated to the OUM (fide KING & BURKE 1989).
Holotype: MCZ R-40003, adult female [babcocki] 
DiagnosisUnfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 867 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentSubspecies: Not recognized by all recent authors as this species shows extensive geographic variation (BONIN et al. 2006). Fritz et al. (2010, 2022) rejected all subspecies.

Type species: Testudo pardalis BELL 1828 is the type species of the genus Stigmochelys GRAY 1873: 5.

Distribution: see map in TTWG 2025. 
EtymologyApparently named after the Latin pardalis, a leopard, alluding to the color pattern.

The genus was probably named after Greek stigma = mark, brand, spot, also the surface of the female flower that receives the pollen, and Greek chelys (χέλυς), tortoise, apparently in reference to the pattern on the carapace. 
References
  • Abegg, Daniela 2014. Feldarbeit mit der Pantherschildkröte Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1828) in der Kalahari-Wüste. Testudo. 23 (1): 24-32
  • Adler, Ulla 2005. Leopardikilpikonna Geochelone pardalis pardalis) Pikku j ättiläinen. Herpetomania 14 (3-4):24-27.
  • Amer, S.A.M.; Sallam, F.A.E 2006. Features of mitochondrial DNA in African tortoise “Geochelone pardalis” and their phylogenetic implications. Journal – Egyptian German Society of Zoology 49C:163-176.
  • Auerbach, R.D. 1987. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Mokwepa Consultants, Botswana, 295 pp.
  • Baptista NL, António T, Branch WR. 2019. The herpetofauna of Bicuar National Park and surroundings, southwestern Angola: a preliminary checklist. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2) [Special Section]: 96–130 (e203) - get paper here
  • Barnes, Keith 2016. Animals of Kruger National Park. Princeton University Press, ca. 180 pp. - get paper here
  • Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M.; Burger, M., Marais, J.; Alexander, G.J. & de Villliers, M.S. (eds.) 2014. Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 512 pp.
  • Bauer, Aaron M.; Branch, William R. & Haacke, Wulf D. 1993. The herpetofauna of the Kamanjab area and adjacent Damaraland, Namibia. Madoqua (Windhoek) 18 (2): 117-145. - get paper here
  • Bell, T. 1828. Descriptions of three new species of land tortoises. Zoological Journal. London. 3: 419-421. - get paper here
  • Bell, T. 1836. A monograph of the Testudinata. London, 1836-1842 (sometimes given as 1832-1836, not date given, unnumbered pages) - get paper here
  • Boettger, O. 1889. Herpetologische Miscellen. [I Epirus, II Corfu, III Kamerun, IV Gross-Namaland, V Transvaal, VI. Pondoland, VII Madagascar, VIII Madras, IX Java, X Nias, XI Nordwest-Peru]. Bericht senckenb. naturf. Ges. (Frankfurt): 267-316 - get paper here
  • Boettger,O. 1893. Übersicht der von Prof. C. Keller anlässlich der Ruspoli'schen Expedition nach den Somaliländern gesammelten Reptilien und Batrachier. Zool. Anz. 16 (416): 113-119 - get paper here
  • Bonin, F., Devaux, B. & Dupré, A. 2006. Turtles of the World. English translation by P.C.H. Pritchard. Johns Hopkins University Press, 416 pp.
  • Böttcher, M. 2007. Die Versorgung von Reptilien in der Terrarienhaltung mit ultraviolettem Licht. Elaphe 15 (1): 32-37
  • Bour, R. 1980. Essai sur la taxinomie des Testudinidae actuels (Reptilia, Chelonii). Bull. Mus. natl. Hist. nat. Paris (4) 2 (2): 541-546
  • Bourquin, O. 2009. Reptiles (Reptilia) in KwaZulu-Natal: I - diversity and distribution. Durban Museum Novitates 29: 57-103
  • BOURQUIN, O. & V. GRUENER 2017. A NOTE ON THE HERPETOFAUNA OF MODISA CAMP (BOTSWANA) AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. African Herp News (64): 9-26 - get paper here
  • Broadley, D.G. 1962. On some reptile collections from the North-Western and North-Eastern Districts of Southern Rhodesia 1958-1961, with descriptions of four new lizards. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. South. Rhodesia 26 (B): 787-843
  • BUSSON, F., & LEOHR, V.J.T. 2011. Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell 1828) Diet. African Herp News (54): 12-13 - get paper here
  • Caccone, Adalgisa; George Amato; Oliver C. Gratry; John Behler and Jeffrey R. Powell 1999. A Molecular Phylogeny of Four Endangered Madagascar Tortoises Based on MtDNA Sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 12 (1): 1–9 - get paper here
  • Chansa, W. & Wagner, P. 2006. On the status of Malacochersus tornieri (SIEBENROCK, 1903) in Zambia. Salamandra 42 (2-3): 187-190 - get paper here
  • Chessman, B. C. 2024. The conundrum of turtle and tortoise basking: A critical review. Journal of Zoology - get paper here
  • Cimatti, E. 2005. Scaly encounters in Kenya. Reptilia (GB) (42): 65-69 - get paper here
  • Cimatti, E. 2006. Reptile Parks in Tanzania. Reptilia (GB) (48): 52-59 - get paper here
  • Conradie W and Branch WR. 2016. The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 10 (2) [Special Section]: 6–36 - get paper here
  • Conradie W, Keates C, Verburgt L, Baptista NL, Harvey J, Júlio T, Neef G. 2022. Contributions to the herpetofauna of the Angolan Okavango-Cuando-Zambezi River drainages. Part 2: Lizards (Sauria), chelonians, and crocodiles. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 16(2): 181–214 (e322) - get paper here
  • CONRADIE, W., DOUCETTE-RIISE, S., VANHOOYDONCK, B., ENGELBRECHT, H., MEASEY, G.J., & TOLLEY, K. 2011. Herpetological survey of Rooipoort Nature Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa. African Herp News (53): 35-41 - get paper here
  • CONRADIE, W., ENGELBRECHT, H., HERREL, A., MEASEY, G.J., NIELSEN, S.V., V ANHOOYDONCK, B., & TOLLEY, K.A. 2011. Reptile survey of Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province - South Africa. African Herp News (55): 6-12 - get paper here
  • Conradie, Werner; Brian Reeves , Neil Brown, & Jan A. Venter 2016. Herpetofauna of the Oviston, Commando Drift and Tsolwana nature reserves in the arid interior of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Indago 32: 81-98 - get paper here
  • Coombs, G. 2016. Stigmochelys pardalis (Leopard Tortoise) road mortality. Herpetological Review 47(3): 449-450. - get paper here
  • COOMBS, G. 2017. Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1828) Leopard tortoise SURVIVAL OF RELEASED OR ESCAPED INDIVIDUAL. African Herp News (64): 30-33 - get paper here
  • Cunningham, Peter L. & Willie Adank 2003. Geochelone pardalis, Leopard Tortoise, Fire avoidance. African Herp News (36): 9-10 - get paper here
  • Douglas, Rod M. and Magda Rall. 2006. Seasonal shelter selection by Leopard Tortises Geochelone pardalis in the Franklin Nature Reserve, Free State, South Africa. Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 5 (1): 121-129 - get paper here
  • Downs, Colleen T. and Megan K. McMaster. 2006. Base écologique et paramétres démographiques de la Tortue léopard Geochelone pardalis en Afrique du sud. Chéloniens 1: 22-28
  • Duméril, A. M.C., G. BIBRON & A. DUMÉRIL 1854. Erpétologie générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles. Vol. 9. Paris, XX + 440 S. - get paper here
  • Duméril, A.M.C., and G. Bibron. 1835. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles, Vol. 2. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, iv + 680 p. - get paper here
  • Ernst,C.H. and Barbour,R.W. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. - London
  • Fraser M. 2023. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa. Biodiversity Observations 13: 162–185. 14 March 2023 - get paper here
  • Fritz, U., Daniels, S.R., Hofmeyr, M.D., González, J., Barrio-Amorós, C.L., Siroky, P., Hundsdörfer, A.K., Stuckas, H., 2010. Mitochondrial phylogeography and subspecies of the wide-ranging, sub-Saharan leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis (Testudines: Testudinidae) - a case study for the pitfalls of pseudogenes and GenBank sequences. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 48 (4), 348-359 - get paper here
  • Fritz, U., Tolley, K. A., Vamberger, M., & Ihlow, F. 2022. Phylogeny and phylogeography of chelonians from sub-Saharan Africa—A review of current knowledge in tribute to Margaretha D. Hofmeyr. Vertebrate Zoology, 72: 951-969 - get paper here
  • Fritz, Uwe and Olaf R.P. Bininda-Emonds 2007. When genes meet nomenclature: Tortoise phylogeny and the shifting generic concepts of Testudo and Geochelone. Zoology 110 (4): 298-307 [erratum in vol. 111 (1): 84] - get paper here
  • Fuchs, Niklas 2023. Unter Pflanzenökologen – ein Einblick in die Habitate und Herpetofauna des Krüger-Nationalparks in Südafrika. Elaphe 2024 (1): 44-
  • Gans, C.; LAURENT, R.F. & PANDIT, H. 1965. Notes on a herpetological collection from the Somali Republic. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr., Sér. 8vo, Tervuren, (80) Zool., (134): 1-93
  • Gray, J.E. 1873. Hand-list of the specimens of shield reptiles in the British Museum. British Museum, London, 124 pp.
  • Greig, J.C., and P.D. Burdett. 1976. Patterns in the distributions of Southern African terrestrial tortoises (Cryptodira: Testudinidae). Zool. Africana 11(2): 250-267.
  • Hall, Georgiana 1995. Leopard tortoises [Geochelone pardalis]. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine 1995 (Jan./Feb.): 50-57
  • HASSEN, L. & CUNNINGHAM, P. 2012. Stigmochelys pardalis Bell, 1928 Predation. African Herp News (57): 10 - get paper here
  • Hauke, Tobias 2018. Namibia – Eindrücke während der Regenzeit. Draco 16 (64): 50-59 [2015] - get paper here
  • Hellmich, W. 1957. Herpetologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise in Angola. Veröff. Zool. Staatssammlung München 5: 1-91 - get paper here
  • Herrmann, H.-W.; W.R. Branch 2013. Fifty years of herpetological research in the Namib Desert and Namibia with an updated and annotated species checklist. Journal of Arid Environments 93: 94–115 - get paper here
  • Herz, M. 2012. Die Panther-Schildkröte, Stigmochelys pardalis. Natur und Tier Verlag, 64 pp. - get paper here
  • Herz, M. 2013. Herpetologische Eindrücke auf Safaris in Ostafrika. Reptilia (Münster) 18 (104): 81- - get paper here
  • Hofmeyr, Margaretha D.; Melita Vamberger, William Branch, Alfred Schleicher and Savel R. Daniels 2016. Tortoise (Reptilia, Testudinidae) radiations in Southern Africa from the Eocene to the present. Zoologica Scripta 46: 389–400, DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12223 [Record online: 18 NOV 2016] - get paper here
  • Holt, Sharon; Liora Kolska Horwitz, Beryl Wilson & Daryl Codron 2021. Leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1928) mortality caused by electrified fences in central South Africa and its impact on tortoise demography. African Journal of Herpetology 70: 32-52 - get paper here
  • Hughes, B. 1986. Longevity Records of African Captive Amphibians and Reptiles: Part 1: Introduction and Species List 1 - Amphibians and Chelonians. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (32): 1-5 - get paper here
  • Iverson, John B. 2006. Statut taxonomique de tortue léopard Stigmochelys pardalis. Chéloniens 1:19-21.
  • Kruschenski, V. & C. Kässer 2014. Südafrika. Zwischen Reptilien und den Big Five. Reptilia (Münster) 19 (106): 82-93
  • Lambris, A. J. L. 1998. The leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis: one taxon or two? African Herp News (28): 18-19 - get paper here
  • Lanza, B., and A. Sassi 1966. Le testuggini terrestri e d’acqua dolce della Somalia (Reptilia Testudines). Monitore Zoologico Italiano, 2 (supplemento): 257-272 - get paper here
  • Largen, M.J.; Spawls, S. 2010. Amphibians and Reptiles of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 694 pp.
  • Le, Minh; Christopher J. Raxworthy, William P. McCord and Lisa Mertz 2006. A molecular phylogeny of tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 450 (2): 517-531 - get paper here
  • Lobón-Rovira J, Vaz Pinto P, S. Becker F, Tolley KA, Measey J, Bennet B, Boon B, de Sá S, Conradie W 2022. An updated herpetofaunal species inventory of Iona National Park in southwestern Angola. Check List 18(2): 289-321 - get paper here
  • Loveridge, A. 1935. Scientific results of an expedition to rain forest regions in Eastern Africa. I. New reptiles and amphibians from East Africa. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harvard 79: 1- 19. - get paper here
  • Loveridge, A. 1936. African reptiles and amphibians in the Field Museum of Natural History. Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Chicago, 22 (1): 1-122 - get paper here
  • Loveridge, A. 1953. Zoological Results of a fifth expedition to East Africa. III. Reptiles from Nyasaland and Tete. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 110 (3): 142-322. - get paper here
  • Loveridge, Arthur & Williams, Ernest E. 1957. Revision of the African Tortoises and Turtles of the Suborder Cryptodira. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 115 (6): 163-557 - get paper here
  • Marques MP, Parrinha D, Lopes-Lima M, Tiutenko A, Bauer AM, Ceríaco LMP 2024. An island in a sea of sand: a first checklist of the herpetofauna of the Serra da Neve inselberg, southwestern Angola. ZooKeys 1201: 167-217 - get paper here
  • Marques, Mariana P.; Luis M. P. Ceríaco , David C. Blackburn , and Aaron M. Bauer 2018. Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola -- Atlas of Historical and Bibliographic Records (1840–2017). Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 4) 65: 1-501 (Supplement II)
  • Mazuch, Tomáš 2013. Amphibians and Reptiles of Somaliland and Eastern Ethiopia. Tomáš Mazuch Publishing, 80 pp. ISBN: 978-80-905439-0-4 - get paper here
  • McMaster, M.K. & C.T. Downs 2009. Home Range and Daily Movement of Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in the Nama-Karoo, South Africa Journal of Herpetology 43 (4): 561-569. - get paper here
  • McMaster, M.K. & Downs, C.T. 2006. Do seasonal and behavioral differences in the use of refuges by the Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) favor passice thermoregulation? Herpetologica 62 (1): 37-46 - get paper here
  • McMaster, M.K. and C.T. Downs 2013. Seasonal and Daily Activity Patterns of Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis Bell, 1828) on Farmland in the Nama-Karoo, South Africa. African Zoology Apr 2013, Vol. 48, No. 1: 72-83. - get paper here
  • Mertens, R. 1938. Über eine herpetologische Sammlung aus dem Gebiete des Njarasa-Grabens Ost-Afrikas. Veröffentlichungen aus dem Deutschen Kolonial- und Übersee-Museum in Bremen 2 (1): 1-9 [no page numbers]
  • Mill, Ernst. 2015. Ein Erfahrungsbericht zur Haltung, Zucht und Situation der Pantherschildkröte (Stigmochelys pardalis) und der Nordostafrikanischen Gelenkschildkröte (Kinixys belliana) in Äthiopien Teil I. Radiata 24 (1): 4-66
  • Mill, Ernst. 2015. Ein Erfahrungsbericht zur Haltung, Zucht und Situation der Pantherschildkröte (Stigmochelys pardalis) und der Nordostafrikanischen Gelenkschildkröte (Kinixys belliana) in Äthiopien Teil II. Radiata 24 (2): 4-23
  • Milton, Suzanne;Dean, Richard 1993. The leopard tortoise in the Karoo [Geochelone pardalis]. African Wildlife 47 (1): 27-28
  • Monadjem, Ara; Robert A. McCleery, and Bret A. Collier 2013. Activity and Movement Patterns of the Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis in a Subtropical Savanna. Journal of Herpetology Jun 2013, Vol. 47, No. 2: 237-242. - get paper here
  • Neron, Kevin. 2006. Maintenance en captivité de la tortue léopard Stigmochelys pardalis (R. Bour 1984). Chéloniens 1: 29-37
  • Parker, M.R. and Fitzgerald, L.A. 2024. Using life history to predict outcomes of conservation translocations of herpetofauna. Anim. Conserv. - get paper here
  • Pienaar, Uys de Villiers 1978. The Reptile Fauna of the Kruger National Park. Pretoria: National Parks Board of South Africa, i-vii, 222 S.
  • Pietersen DW, Pietersen EW, Conradie W. 2017. Preliminary herpetological survey of Ngonye Falls and surrounding regions in south-western Zambia. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 11(1) [Special Section]: 24–43 (e148 - get paper here
  • Pietersen, Darren W. Pietersen, Errol W. Haacke, Wulf D. 2013. First herpetological appraisal of the Parque Nacional de Banhine, Gaza Province, southern Mozambique. Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History 3: 153-163 - get paper here
  • Pietersen, Darren, Verburgt, Luke & Davies, John 2021. Snakes and other reptiles of Zambia and Malawi. Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa, 376 pp., ISBN 9781775847373
  • Razzetti, E. & Msuya, C.A. 2002. Field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Arusha National Park (Tanzania). Publ. Ed. Negri Istituto, Oikos, Varese, 84 pp.
  • Reissig, J. & J. S. HEATON 2017. TESTUDINIDAE: Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell 1828) Leopard Tortoise - NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY. African Herp News (65): 28-30 - get paper here
  • Rödel, M.-O. 1990. Beitrag zur Kenntnis einiger kenianischer Schildkröten und ihrer Lebensräume. Sauria 12 (1): 25-29 - get paper here
  • Rödel, M.O. & Bussmann, R. 1992. Weitere Daten zur Verbreitung und habitatwahl von Geochelone pardalis babcocki (BELL 1826), Pelomedusa subrufa subrufa (LACÉPÈDE 1788) und Pelusios sinuatus (SMITH 1838) in Kenia. Sauria 14 (2): 33-37 - get paper here
  • Saber, S. A., Gebresenbet, F., Bekele, A., & Salama, E. N. 2024. Survey of Reptiles in Nechisar National Park, Southern Ethiopia. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 31(5), 293-301 - get paper here
  • Schleicher, Alfred 2013. Die Pantherschildkröte Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1928). Testudo. 22 (3): 15-36. Testudo. 22 (3): 15-36
  • Schleicher, Alfred 2015. Reptilien Namibias. Namibia Scientific  Society, 276 pp.
  • Schleicher, Alfred 2020. Reptiles of Namibia. Kuiseb Publishers, Windhoek, Namibia, 271 pp.
  • Schönecker, P. 2014. Südafrika. Auf Reptiliensuche entlang der Garden Route. Reptilia (Münster) 19 (105): 80-93
  • Simang, Anne; Peter L. Cunningham, and Brian T. Henen 2010. Color Selection by Juvenile Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in Namibia. Journal of Herpetology 44 (2): 327–331 - get paper here
  • Soler Massana, J. & Martínez Silvestre, A. 2005. Taxonomie, Ökologie und Schutz der Pantherschildkröte (Stigmochelys pardalis). Reptilia (Münster) 10 (56): 31-35 - get paper here
  • Soler Massana, J. & Martínez Silvestre, A. 2005. Stigmochelys pardalis - Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of the Leopard Tortoise. Reptilia (GB) (43): 31-35 - get paper here
  • Sowerby, James de Carle and Edward Lear 1872. Tortoises, terrapins, and turtles: drawn from life. London, Paris, and Frankfort :H. Sotheran, J. Baer & co. - get paper here
  • Spawls, S. 2017. A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maasai Mara Ecosystem. Norwich City College Print Room - get paper here
  • Spawls, Stephen; Tomáš Mazuch & Abubakr Mohammad 2023. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of North-east Africa. Bloomsbury, 640 pp. - get paper here
  • Spawls, Steve; Kim Howell, Harald Hinkel, Michele Menegon 2018. Field Guide to East African Reptiles. Bloomsbury, 624 pp. - get paper here
  • Spitzweg C, Hofmeyr MD, Fritz U, Vamberger M. 2018. Leopard tortoises in southern Africa have greater genetic diversity in the north than in the south (Testudinidae). Zoologica Scripta 48: 57– 68 - get paper here
  • Stander, R.I. 2023. The Reptiles of the Limpopo Province and Kruger National Park. Herp Nomad, Polokwane, South Africa, 367 pp. - get paper here
  • Sweeney, R. C. H. 1960. THE CHELONIA OF NYASALAND PROTECTORATE. The Nyasaland Journal 13 (1): 35-50 - get paper here
  • Tolley KA, Telford NS, Makhubo BG, Power RJ, Alexander GJ 2023. Filling the gap: Noteworthy herpetological discoveries in North West Province, South Africa. Zoosystematics and Evolution 99(1): 101-116 - get paper here
  • Tolley, K.A., Conradie, W., Pietersen, D.W., Weeber, J., Burger, M. & Alexander, G.J. (eds) 2023. Conservation status of the reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. Suricata 10. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
  • Tornier, G. 1905. Schildkröten und Eidechsen aus Nord-Ost Afrika und Arabien. Aus Carlo v. Erlanger’s und Oscar Neumann’s Forschungsreise. Zool. Jahrb. Syst. 22: 365-388 - get paper here
  • Tornier,G. 1897. Die Kriechthiere Deutsch-Ostafrikas. Beiträge zur Systematik und Descendenzlehre. D. Reimer, Berlin, 164 pp. - get paper here
  • TTWG [TURTLE TAXONOMY WORKING GROUP: RHODIN, A.G.J., IVERSON, J.B., FRITZ, U., GALLEGO-GARCÍA, N., GEORGES, A., SHAFFER, H.B., AND VAN DuK, P.P.]. 2025. Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (10th Ed.). In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., van Dijk, P.P., Stanford, C.B., Goode, E.V., Buhlmann, K.A., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 10:1-575 - get paper here
  • TTWG; Rhodin, A.G.J.; van Dijk, P.P.; Iverson, J.B. & Shaffer, H.B. [turtle taxonomy working group] 2010. Turtles of the World, 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status. Chelonian Research Monographs (ISSN 1088-7105) No. 5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010 - get paper here
  • Valverde, J. 2005. Afrikanische Landschildkröten. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (56): 18-25 - get paper here
  • Valverde, J. 2005. African Tortoises. Reptilia (GB) (43): 12-20 - get paper here
  • Vamberger, M., & Hofmeyr, M. D. 2021. Filling the sampling gaps: conservation genetics of the leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Testudo 9 (2): 46 - get paper here
  • Vinke, T. & Vinke, S. 2005. Die Lanschildkröten Afrikas - Vielfalt durch Anpassung an extreme Lebensräume. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (56): 26-28 - get paper here
  • Vinke, T. & Vinke, S. 2005. The tortoises of Africa. Diversity through adaptation to extreme habitats. Reptilia (GB) (43): 21-25 - get paper here
  • Vlachos, E. and Rabi, M. 2018. Total evidence analysis and body size evolution of extant and extinct tortoises (Testudines: Cryptodira: Pan-Testudinidae). Cladistics 34: 652–683, doi:10.1111/cla.12227 - get paper here
  • Watt, G. 2012. Stigmochelys pardalis (leopard tortoise) behavior. Herpetological Review 43: 608 - get paper here
  • Zahner, H. 1992. Erfahrungen bei der Haltung und Zucht der Pantherschildkröte, Geochelone pardalis pardalis (Bell, 1828). Sauria 14 (4): 15-19 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator