Latest leopard tortoise research
Newest papers on Stigmochelys pardalis in the HerpAtlas research library, updated automatically.
- Gut microbiota variation in captive tortoises is associated with host species, trophic category, and growth rate.
Vanous K, Rojas CA, Pomeroy C et al. · Frontiers in microbiology · 2026-09 · open access
Despite the ecological and conservation importance of tortoises, their gut bacterial microbiotas remain poorly characterized, particularly across species in captivity. Associations between gut microbiota composition and tortoise age, sex, and growth rate are also poorly understood. Here, we use…
Leopard TortoiseAfrican Spurred TortoiseRussian TortoiseRed-footed TortoiseYellow-footed Tortoise
- Predominant α 2 -adrenoceptor control of chelonian systemic resistance arteries provides a mechanistic basis for the cardiovascular effects of α 2 -agonist sedation.
Kruuse AO, Wibrand R, Baldwin SN et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · 2026-09
- Persistent illegal online trade in turtles and tortoises in Spain
Marta Canós-Burguete, Andrés Giménez, Maria Gauchia et al. · Scientific Reports · 2026-08 · open access
Leopard TortoiseAfrican Spurred TortoiseHermann's TortoiseRussian Tortoise
- 3D Carapace Asymmetry in Tortoises: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis
Ebuderda Günay, Yusuf Altundağ, Ermiş Özkan et al. · Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine · 2026-07
- Too cool, low, and slow: Camera traps used to determine leopard tortoise occupancy in arid areas of South Africa
Attie Van Niekerk, Mark Keith, Jan A. Venter et al. · African Journal of Herpetology · 2026-07 · open access
- An update on Pleistocene tortoise tracks on South Africa’s Cape south coast
Charles William Helm, Andrew S. Carr, Hayley C. Cawthra et al. · Quaternary Research · 2026-04 · open access
Abstract Four new Pleistocene track-bearing aeolianite surfaces have been identified on South Africa’s Cape south coast, each portraying evidence of tortoise tracks. Together, they add to and buttress previous reports of tortoise tracks and trackways from the region. Globally, this remains the only…
- Back Home: first successful geographical assignment of rehabilitated leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis using a conservation genetic database
Armstrong A, Kropff A, Kotze A et al. · Conservation genetics · 2026-04
- Back Home: first successful geographical assignment of rehabilitated leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis using a conservation genetic database
Adrian John Armstrong, Anna S. Kropff, Antoinette Kotzé et al. · Conservation Genetics · 2026-03 · open access
Abstract Illegal trade in leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis is widespread, yet the origins of confiscated S. pardalis are often unknown. Accurate assignment to source populations is essential for informed conservation management and release. We expanded and tested a genetic reference database…
- Molecular and morphological characterization of hemoprotozoan infections in imported reptiles in Taiwan.
Chang YC, Lin TS, Huang WW et al. · International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2025-11 · open access
Introduction Hemoprotozoa, a diverse group of parasitic protozoa, inhabit the bloodstream of a wide array of vertebrate hosts, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Despite their prevalence, key aspects of hemoprotozoan diversity, host associations, and ecological roles remain…
- Tropical Dry Grassland Tortoises
Jane Williams · CABI eBooks · 2024-12
- South Africa as a Donor of Its Native and Exotic Species to the International Pet Trade
Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Tinyiko Cavin Shivambu, Takalani Nelufule et al. · Sustainability · 2024-10 · open access
The global pet trade is a thriving multibillion-dollar industry, involving the international exchange of various species and regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). South Africa plays a significant role as both an importer and…
- Carapace Morphology Variations in Captive Tortoises: Insights from Three-Dimensional Analysis.
Eravci Yalin E, Gündemir O, Günay E et al. · Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024-09 · open access
1. Introduction Tortoises, classified under the family Testudinidae, are a diverse group of reptiles encompassing 60 living species distributed across a wide geographical range. Their habitats span various terrestrial environments, ranging from coastal plains to arid deserts and lush tropical…
- Consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in a low‐nutrient environment
Andrew J. Abraham, Mattheus Louw, Laurene M. van Dijk et al. · African Journal of Ecology · 2024-07 · open access
Abstract Hyaena faeces and mineral licks represent highly concentrated nutrient resources for leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) living in nutrient‐poor environments. Here, we provide direct evidence for the consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises in…
- Genetic diversity and host specificity of Blastocystis in reptiles, Eastern Thailand.
Sutthikornchai C, Abu A, Pintong AR et al. · Veterinary parasitology · 2024-06 · open access
Leopard TortoiseAfrican Spurred TortoiseRed-footed TortoiseBearded Dragon
- Behavioural Impact of Captive Management Changes in Three Species of Testudinidae
Jessica T. Turner, Alexandra Louise Whittaker, David J. McLelland · Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens · 2022-11 · open access
Reptile behaviour and welfare are understudied in comparison with mammals. In this study, behavioural data on three species of tortoises were recorded before and after an environmental change which was anticipated to be positive in nature. The environmental changes differed for each population, but…
- Large Pleistocene tortoise tracks on the Cape south coast of South Africa
Charles William Helm, Andrew S. Carr, Hayley C. Cawthra et al. · Quaternary Research · 2022-10 · open access
Abstract Although tortoises (Testudinidae) are a familiar clade of reptiles, with a body fossil record extending to at least the Eocene, hitherto no tortoise ichnosites have been described. Here, a number of sites attributed to tortoise trackmakers are identified within Pleistocene aeolianites on…
- Jingmen Tick Virus in Ticks from Kenya.
Ogola EO, Kopp A, Bastos ADS et al. · Viruses · 2022-05 · open access
Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is an arbovirus with a multisegmented genome related to those of unsegmented flaviviruses. The virus first described in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected in Jingmen city (Hubei Province, China) in 2010 is associated with febrile illness in humans. Since then, the…
- A novel herpesvirus detected in 3 species of chelonians.
Winter JM, Wellehan JFX, Apakupakul K et al. · Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc · 2022-04
- Assessing choice ability and preferences of five Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) for three stimuli through a novel two-phase preference test
Mark James Learmonth, Sally L. Sherwen, Paul Hamilton Hemsworth · The Journal of zoo and aquarium research · 2021-04
- Leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1928) mortality caused by electrified fences in central South Africa and its impact on tortoise demography
Sharon Holt, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Beryl Wilson et al. · African Journal of Herpetology · 2021-01
- Habitat use and spatial niche overlap of sympatric savannah tortoises at multiple spatial scales in South Sudan
Demaya GS, Benansio JS, Petrozzi F et al. · Journal of arid environments. · 2020-12
- Occurrence and diversity of Campylobacter species in captive chelonians.
De Luca C, Iraola G, Apostolakos I et al. · Veterinary microbiology · 2019-12
- Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) Road Mortality and Extralimital Occurence in Western Cape, South Africa.
James H. Baxter‐Gilbert, Julia L. Riley · Biodiversity Observations · 2019-12 · open access
During field surveys in the Spring of 2018 we made two observations of Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) on roadsides near Lambert's Bay, WC, South Africa. One was a deceased adult female, killed as a result of a tortoise-vehicle collision. The other was a live adult females, which was move…
- Evaluation of commercial semen extenders and crystalloids for short term cooled extension of epididymal spermatozoa in squamates and chelonians
Sean Perry, Sarah Camlic, Mark Mitchell · Clinical Theriogenology · 2019-09 · open access
- Leopard tortoises in southern Africa have greater genetic diversity in the north than in the south (Testudinidae)
Cäcilia Spitzweg, Margaretha D. Hofmeyr, Uwe Fritz et al. · Zoologica Scripta · 2018-11
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