Scientific Name: Stigmochelys pardalis

Found In: shrubland and grasslands in sub-Saharan Africa

Size: 16 – 28 inches long

Diet: Herbivore: grasses, leaves, berries, flowers including prickly pear.

Threat Level: Least concern

Facts: Retracting their head and feet into their shells often results in a hissing sound which is likely caused by the squeezing of the air from the lungs and around the limbs.

Leopard tortoise at the Virginia Zoo