pancake tortoise

reptile

Also known as: Malacochersus tornieri

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Last updated

July 17, 2026

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The pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) is a unique reptile belonging to the tortoise family (Testudinidae). Unlike most tortoises, which have high, domed shells, the pancake tortoise has a flattened shell. This adaptation allows it to live among rocky outcroppings in southeastern Africa, where it can easily crawl into crevices for safety. If threatened, the pancake tortoise can inflate its lungs, expanding its shell to lodge itself securely within a crevice, making it difficult for predators to extract. Tortoises are terrestrial and found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica, inhabiting diverse environments from deserts to tropical forests.12

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Form and function
…the major exception being the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) of southeastern Africa. The pancake tortoise lives among rocky outcroppings, where its flat shell allows it to crawl into crevices to rest. Once in a crevice, the pancake tortoise can inflate its lungs, thus expanding the shell and lodging itself so…
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…the major exception being the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) of southeastern Africa. The pancake tortoise lives among rocky outcroppings, where its flat shell allows it to crawl into crevices to rest. Once in a crevice, the pancake tortoise can inflate its lungs, thus expanding the shell and lodging itself so…
Read More