Reptiles and Invertebrates

LEOPARD TORTOISE

Geochelone pardalis

The Leopard Tortoise is one of the larger species of tortoise. It lives in areas of savannah in the high plains and lower lying areas of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. To find food in these barren areas the Leopard Tortoise undertakes extensive migrations; it has even been observed to migrate across deserts. It is not at all selective about its food and, to meet its requirements for calcium, it eats old bones. The females bury their eggs which are then incubated by the heat of the sun. Reptiles were the first vertebrate animals to emerge from the sea and live permanently.

ROYAL PYTHON

Python regius

Royal Pythons inhabit the rainforests of West Africa, particularly Ghana and Togo. They are also known as 'ball pythons' because when they are frightened they roll into a tight ball with their head in the middle. This is one of the smaller species of python; it only grows to about 1.5 metres (5 feet) in length. Pythons are nonpoisonous; they kill their prey by encircling it and gradually tightening their coils until the prey animal suffocates. All snakes are carnivorous, (meat-eaters). Their jaws are loosely hinged and this allows them to swallow fairly large prey whole. Royal Pythons feed almost exclusively on rodents. Female Royal Pythons lay eggs which they curl around and incubate. These snakes can live for 20 - 30 years. Deforestation and the pet trade have caused these animals to become threatened in the wild.

Other Reptiles & Invertebrates at Africa Alive!

Chilean Rose Tarantula	Plated Lizard
Giant African Land Snail	Spiny-tailed Dabb Lizzard
Leopard Gecko	Spur-thighed Tortoise
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach	Tanzanian Red-Legged Millipede