Unusual pancake?

[Kapidolo Farms]

This is a photo of a photo. Is this a common color pattern for this species? Have you seen one, a few before? I liked it, so took the photo of the photo. Will

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

This is a photo of a photo. Is this a common color pattern for this species? Have you seen one, a few before? I liked it, so took the photo of the photo. Will

So if pyramided tortoises could be also called waffle tortoises, 'cuase you could make a waffle to look like pyramiding, and pancake tortoises are called that 'cuase they are flat, does that make the nearly all black one a cajun pancake tortoise?

No matter how dumb that was, do you think this nearly all black one is that common?

The time count for me on pancakes, personal to have or see, and zoos is to care for or see less than perhaps 200 individuals, images not really adding to that count so much.

I've not seen one so nearly ALL black before, did I miss the hundreds of them that you all have seen, or is it that unique?

Will

 

[wellington]

I haven't been into the tortoise world long, just over two years. However, with all the searching I have done, just looking at torts, seeing what's for sale and learning, I have never seen one. Then again, I just seen a black Greek on the net. It actually was post by a member on the forum too a few years back. Here's the link if interested. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-24783.html

 

[tortadise]

Very common. Actually I have some that have quite dark depiction like that one. Not as dark but pretty dark. Also when they tend to get very old they will turn solid dark brown to black and lose the star pattern. I have a old photo of some huge very old specimens I has 7 years ago that were very old. They had almost no pattern. Very faded. Which is another reason why I feel they are more threatened in wild range. Because the younger specimens are the ones being caught. Can only catch what you find.

Both are spectacular looking though.

 

[wellington]

Can you post some pics Kelly?

 

[tortadise]

Yeah I have to find them. I posted them last year for Tim/robin. Pertaining to one of the females laying 4 eggs. Which is a lot for one clutch.

 

[EricIvins]

Very common. Actually I have some that have quite dark depiction like that one. Not as dark but pretty dark. Also when they tend to get very old they will turn solid dark brown to black and lose the star pattern. I have a old photo of some huge very old specimens I has 7 years ago that were very old. They had almost no pattern. Very faded. Which is another reason why I feel they are more threatened in wild range. Because the younger specimens are the ones being caught. Can only catch what you find.

Both are spectacular looking though.

They are still very common throughout their range. The old animals are undesirable for the Pet trade. That is all there is to it. Nobody wants a dull, bleached out Tortoise when they can have an animal with a lot of pattern. The Exporters know this, and so do the collectors. Neither get paid for dirty, "ugly" looking animals. That is the way things go. Since they are common, the Exporters can be choosy on what animals they take and do not take......

 

[tortadise]

Ahh cool. I figured you would have a good answer. Well more factual than my theory of going ones left. Ha. Thanks for mentioning. I actually kinda like the dark ones.

 

[sibi]

I never stop learning. You could've fooled me. Never seen a dark one like this, but now I know why.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

I don't have any reason to believe it is age related. It is just an individual nearly all black. Age related color change usually appears as a loss of color, not an accumulation.

Interesting point of view on the collection, sorta good news too, those that are older/ugly usually are better producers. At least that is so for so many other chelonians. Not because they are ugly, but because they are older.

I found the photo of the three in one image you talk about Kelly, at least the one on the bottom look similarly nearly all black too. Thanks for pointing that.

Will

 

[tortadise]

Correct. The production. I do say that specimen does not look very old. So quite interesting indeed. Very dark. I like that specimen.

 

[Tom]

I've seen a few dozen pancakes in my years, and I've never seen one that dark. Some have been darker than others, but that one is nearly black.

 

[tortadise]

This is about the darkest one I have. For sure no where near the one in original post.

 

[Tom]

This is about the darkest one I have. For sure no where near the one in original post.

Yeah that looks about like some of the darker ones I've seen too.

Nice torts btw, Kelly.

 

[tortadise]

This is about the darkest one I have. For sure no where near the one in original post.

Yeah that looks about like some of the darker ones I've seen too.

Nice torts btw, Kelly.

Thanks. I thought I had a lot darker one. Oh well. Searched through all 12 of em and this is the darkest I got.

 

[CourtneyG]

I had a very dark one, when I get her articulated skeleton back I will take a picture of her scutes if they are still a nice dark colour like before. But I have this one of when she was alive. She is under my male.

---

And one by herself, all taken on my old iPod so quality is a bit poor.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Hi CourtneyG, yeah those two have a high proportion of black. All the star pattern tortoises seem to have high variability in the lines and black background. I like all the variability, makes each egg a little Xmas to see what will be. Thanks for posting the images. Will

 

[CourtneyG]

It does and I am very excited to see what kind of patterns my adults produce.

 

[goReptiles]

It's a burnt pancake!

 

[N2TORTS]

Very neat coloring no doubt Mr. Will........
heck for a moment I thought I might have seen this...

"aka: unusual pancake"