Adult SPP!

[BeeBee*BeeLeaves]

Excellent study to read Neal. Thanks. Such a large range for SP/GP babcocki compared to SP/GP pardalis. You know, I have wondered if somewhere down the line, at some time long ago, there was a cross breeding in colonies that shared the range ... and by that I mean cross breeding between sulcata and leopards. Perhaps the flares show up in those with that genetic background, from way back when. Possible, yes? Also, the personality that some GPP owners describe as being more sulcata-like. And then of course, the size differences. Sudan and Ethiopia for instance, range shared at some point, hence gigantor leopards from gigantor sulcatas, that is my question! Ethiopia and South Sudan touch. Those Ethiopian leopards we have seen are Sudan sulcata huge!

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And that male is beautiful, too. Looks big, a big beauty! : )

 

[Neal]

I see what your point is , Neal . But than again I have seen SPP with the same or even less marginal front and back flaring than my torts . Wanda Pattersons sunset hypo Pardalis female , is a prime example (very minimal marginal flaring). My smallest female out of the 3 has the most marginal flaring , I believe . I have whats believed to be a pardalis/babcocki male that has more front and back marginal flaring than my het for sunset hypo pardalis male . So what does this really mean ? I attached a picture of my hybrid male to compare .

It's difficult to say what it really means, it is just an interesting observations is all. I don't mean to suggest that the marginal flaring is only a South African trait, or the lack of indicates that it is not. I have personally seen it more frequently on South African varieties than others. Of course, my observations are primarily from internet photos and a few adult specimens I've seen in person.

It would have been nice to have some physical characteristics described in the study I referenced. I think there is still a lot to learn about leopard tortoises in the wild.

 

[reatrocity]

They are gorgeous! The strange part is I have only been near a large tortoise maybe once in my life. I hope when I go back to Florida I find someone that has a larger tortoise so I could sit and stare at them all day, haha.