Hatchling Leo

[Anyfoot]

This one is flying around on FB and thought some of you would find it interesting. Looks amazing.

 

[Bambam1989]

Oh wow, I wonder if that is a small man or if the leo really is that massive... Could this possibly be a hybrid?

 

[Anyfoot]

Says definitely not hybrid on posts.

 

[Yvonne G]

That is a very old picture of a Somalian leopard. It is usually included along with this one:

 

[Anyfoot]

I have to say I think they are one of the most beautiful tort species out there.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'd be almost willing to bet that "man" has seen to it not many of them exist anymore.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

The largest Somalia and Ethiopian (Rift Valley) Leo I have a reliable record of is 150 pounds+. There are actual breeders in Taiwan, China, Japan, and hopefully still Spain. They seem to have distinct scute markings but, no, it's not a 'dot' count like one famous cheloniologist in AZ suggested. It's more like the light colored patch in each scute is what I think of as bat-wing silhouette. I don't know a better way to describe it. Off and one a few with that color silhouette have been posted here. All non-USA owners.

There are other images as JPA ranch on FaceBook (Taiwan), and on Japanese tortoise people's feed on Facebook. There have been huge exports of them to China and Japan who have offered economic development to that part of Africa.

That is a sensational looking tortoise.

 

[Bambam1989]

I have never heard of Somalian leopards! Got to learn something new today[emoji1] [emoji106] [emoji217]

 

[DARKFIRE007]

Such a cool shell on SUCH a big tort...I am surprised these aren't being bred in the states and sold at reptile shows.

 

[Truffle The RES]

Gigantic Turtles!