10/17/2026
The crevice tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri), also known as the pancake tortoise, is highly specialized, with a noticeably flat shape to its surprisingly flexible shell. Tortoise shells are normally comprised of a significant amount of bone, but these tortoises have much less rigid bone in the overall structure of their shells.
Pancake tortoises are small, with adults growing to a carapace length of up to 7 inches. However, despite their size, they are quite active. Pancake tortoises are known to flee and hide when startled, rather than to retract into their shells. Their unique flexible shell allows them to move more quickly than any other tortoise.
In the wild, these tortoises are found in fragmented populations in limited areas of savanna and semi-desert with rocky outcrops in some parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Crepuscular in habit (active around sunrise and sunset), pancake tortoises rely on their speed and flexible shell to evade predators. Specially adapted to make use of narrow rock crevices as protective shelter, these tortoises are quick and adept climbers, enabling them to utilize their habitat in ways that no other tortoise could.
Assessed by the IUCN as critically endangered, this species is the focus of significant international conservation efforts, including captive breeding projects in zoos to support the wild population. Unfortunately, the remaining wild population faces severe threats from human activity, habitat destruction, and poaching.
The species has been bred and reared under human care for several decades. If you are interested in keeping a pancake tortoise as a pet, it is vitally important to ensure that you support responsible reptile keeping by seeking out captive bred animals.
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The photograph used in this post shows a crevice tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri), or pancake tortoise, photographed in the wild. The photo was taken by Yvonne A. de Jong, and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. The image was not altered for use in this post.
View license information here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
