Pancake Tortoise

The Pancake Tortoise is one of nature’s funniest optical illusions—it looks like someone took a regular tortoise and squished it flat! This unique reptile has a thin, flexible shell that’s much flatter than any other tortoise, helping it slip into narrow rock crevices when danger strikes. Despite its name, it’s not floppy like a real pancake—the shell is still strong, just more bendy and lightweight. Pancake Tortoises are relatively small, growing up to about 6 or 7 inches long, and they’re usually golden-brown with darker patterns that blend right in with their rocky homes.

These clever climbers live in the dry, rocky hills of eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. They make their homes in scrublands and savannas, where there are lots of rock outcrops and tight hidey-holes for squeezing into. Because they rely on narrow crevices for protection instead of a super-hard shell, they need specific terrain to survive—lots of boulders, ledges, and sunshine. They love to bask in the morning sun to warm up and then retreat into their rock shelters during the heat of the day.

Pancake Tortoises are herbivores, munching on dry grasses, leafy greens, and other vegetation they find among the rocks. They’re most active in the morning and late afternoon, avoiding the hottest part of the day. Unlike most tortoises, they’re surprisingly quick and nimble when moving across rocky surfaces—a real treat to watch! In the wild, their numbers are limited due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade, but conservation efforts are helping protect this fascinating, flapjack-shaped tortoise for future generations to enjoy.

Pancake Tortoise

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