Speckled Padloper Tortoise
Conservation status
Near Threatened
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Testudinoidea Family: Testudinidae Genus: Homopus Species: H. signatus
Binomial name
Homopus signatus Schoepf, 1801

The Speckled padloper tortoise (Homopus signatus), is the world's smallest tortoise. Found in western South Africa, it grows to between 6 and 8 cm, with the male being smaller than the female. The tortoise, which feeds on small succulent plants, is so small that even birds attack it.

References

• Animal, Smithsonian Institution, 2005, pg 374