Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis (Bell, 1828)
Basic info
| Common name |
|
|---|---|
| Species name | Geochelone pardalis |
| Scientific name | Geochelone pardalis (Bell, 1828) |
| Taxonomy | Animalia Chordata Reptilia Testudines Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis |
Temperatures & Season
Day time temperatures
| Background summer | 28 - 32 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 26 - 30 °F |
| Basking spot | 40 - 50 °F |
Night time temperatures
| Background summer | 24 - 28 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 22 - 25 °F |
Season
| Winter treatment | cooling |
|---|---|
| Photoperiod summer | 14 hours |
| Photoperiod winter | 10 hours |
Microhabitats
Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.
- Rocks, crevices or burrows
- Grassland or savanna
Ferguson Zones
Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions
The Ferguson Zone in which the Leopard Tortoise has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.
Recommended lighting methods in captivity
Sunbeam method
This method uses the 'Max UVI Recorded' value as a guide for the upper limit of the UVB gradient in captivity. This maximum should be the highest level which a Leopard Tortoise can obtain at its closest approach to its UVB lamp. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Leopard Tortoise.
More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150
Biomes
These are the biomes the Leopard Tortoise was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.
- Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
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References
- Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
- Geochelone pardalis (Bell, 1828) in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
- iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org