Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis. Emerging from night refuge. Fore-limb, survival adaptation from predation when head withdrawn into shell.


Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Foraging for vegetation food. Note heavily scaled front forelimb or leg, of elephantine proportions. Adaptations for both terrestrial locomotion, and when retracted into the shell, becomes a protective covering shield for the head from predators.


Size: 4480px × 6720px
Photo credit: © Joe Blossom / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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