The most common types of tortoise are the leopard, African spurred, red footed and yellow footed.

The leopard tortoise has dark brown, yellow or green skin and dark spots. The underside is white with yellow spots. The male’s tail is longer than the female’s. They grow to about 15 inches long and weigh around 15 pounds.

African spurred tortoises have grayish-brown shells with orange or yellow markings on their heads and legs. They have short spurs on each hind leg that can be used for defense if needed. These tortoises are native to Africa, but are commonly found in zoos and exotic pet shops around the world today. They grow to about 14 inches long and weigh around 10 pounds.

Red footed tortoises have dull brownish-yellow shells that may turn darker as they age. Their feet have yellow stripes along them from front to back, hence their name “red footed.” This species is native to South America and grows up to 12 inches long and weighs 5-8 pounds at maturity.

Last modified: October 11, 2022