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leopard Tortoise - Little Five


leopard Tortoise - Little Five
Photo Information
Copyright: Stephane Ra (Watershed) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 43 W: 2 N: 61] (291)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-17
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikon AF VR 80-400 ED, Hoya HMC Super UV (0) 77mm
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Kruger National Park 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-27 8:23
Viewed: 1391
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
When you are driving in the Kruger, you always have to pay attention to the tortoise. Most of the time, people crush them because they were thinking it's a stone... This Leopard Tortoise is one of the Little five of South Africa.

Leopard Tortoise

The leopard tortoise is approximately 2 feet long which is the biggest turtle in Africa. It weighs 50 to 100 lbs. Its name comes from the color of its shell which has black and yellow spots, look like a leopard. The young have dark brown or black leopard patterns on their shells while adults have smaller spots. Their head, legs, and tail are brownish, yellow. The shell is shaped like an upside-down bowl. It is hard, and bumpy. There is a v shaped notch in the front of the shell. Leopard tortoises have thick club-like back legs that have scales with claws on their toes. They don't have webbed feet. The head, legs, and tail can be almost completely drawn under the shell.

Leopard tortoises live from Eastern Africa to Southern Africa. Their habitat is a Savannah,which is a grassland, with rivers.

In the wild, leopard tortoises usually do not mate until they are between 12 to 15 years old. In captivity, the animals often grow faster and can be ready to mate between six and eight years. Male leopard tortoises can be recognized from females by their longer tails. When the female is ready to lay her egss, she digs a hole 12 inches deep with her hind feet and lays 5 to 30 white eggs at three week intervals for twenty weeks. They hatch one year later.
paulsballs, Adanac, vanderschelden, Necipp has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

G'day Stephane
The light is great the POV is good and the DOF is lovely with the background a little blurred.
One day I'll make it there on safari!!
TFS Paul

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5209] (17609)
  • [2007-02-27 10:15]

Hi Stephane,
Thanks for sharing this portrait with great details and nice composition with us.
Rick

Hi Stephane,
A good image in terms of compo; the DOF is a bit shallow; the latter is a minor nit though.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-02-27 22:28]

Hello Stephane

A beautiful portrait of this tortoise.The details are sharp and the colours appear very natural.Very good low POV.The grass sticking out of it's mouth is a nice touch.Nicely framed.TFS

Rob

Hello Stephane great shot nicely framed composition details look good and dof is fine tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-02-28 16:54]

Hi Steph

Well captured - good DOF.
James

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