Turtles are reptiles characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and acting as a shield."Turtle" may refer to the order as a whole (American English) or to fresh-water and sea-dwelling testudines.
The leopard tortoise is the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 460 mm and weighing 18 kg. Large examples may be 70-centimetre long and weigh up to 54 kg. An adult's maximum shell length can reach a 610 mm diameter.There are regional reports of much larger specimens.