page_title: Chersobius signatus
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Chersobius signatus / Description
caption_attribution_description: Čeština: Nejmenší želva světa – želva trpasličí (Homopus signatus) při páření v&#160;pražské zoo (foceno přes sklo) English: The world’s smallest tortoise Speckled Padloper Tortoise (Homopus signatus) copulating in Prague Zoo (taken through the glass)
context_page_description: Chersobius signatus is the world's smallest species of tortoise. The species is commonly known as the speckled tortoise and also known locally as the speckled padloper and internationally as the speckled Cape tortoise. A member of the genus Chersobius, it is endemic to South Africa.
context_section_description: The males of C. signatus measure 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) in straight carapace length, while the larger females measure up to almost 10 cm (3.9 in); they weigh about 95–165 g (3.4–5.8 oz). This species has a flattened shell with slightly serrated edges. The orange-brown shell is covered in hundreds of black spots. The males have a noticeably concave belly.
  This tiny tortoise can be distinguished from the other Chersobius species by its speckles, and by five toes on its fore feet (unlike many of its relatives, which have four toes on all four feet).
caption: Mating speckled tortoises, in captivity in the Prague Zoo.
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