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How does a pancake tortoise use its flat shell to escape predators?

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Illustrations of ten representative chelonians, including spiny softshell turtle, Galapagos giant tortoise, green turtle, alligator snapping turtle, Blanding's turtle, common map turtle, eastern box turtle, eastern painted turtle, spotted turtle, and eastern mud turtle, each labeled with its common and scientific name. A scale bar at the bottom shows size comparison. — turtle Turtles (order Testudines).

The pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) utilizes its unique, flattened shell to escape predators by crawling into narrow rock crevices found in its natural habitat of southeastern Africa.1

Once inside a crevice, the tortoise inflates its lungs, which expands its body and shell. This action wedges the animal so securely into the rock formation that a predator is unable to pull it free. This defensive strategy is a distinct adaptation compared to most other tortoises, which typically rely on high, domed shells that are difficult for predators to hold in their mouths or crush.12