Reproductive ecology of the critically endangered pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) in the wild

Reproduction of the pancake tortoise in the wild has remained poorly known over the decades. This study fills the knowledge gap by investigating the reproductive ecology of the species in its natural habitats in Kenya. Data were collected using the time-constrained search-and-seize method, group-level scan sampling, radio tracking, and camera-trapping. Our observations revealed a total of 19 mating events that occurred between December and April, predominantly during the rainy seasons. Mating duration averaged 15.2±2.4 minutes. Male-male aggression was observed during the mating season, with the dominant male keeping off all other males and mating with the resident females. Nest preparation events occurred between April and June. Nine nesting events were recorded, but in only five of them was an egg deposited. The nests were dug in loose soil, appeared almost circular, and measured 8.4±0.9 cm wide and 7.0±0.1 cm deep (n=7). The average clutch size was one egg. The eggs were white, hard-..., Study area. — The study was carried out in Kitui County, Kenya, between February 2020 and November 2022. The areas surveyed occur within latitudes 00o - 01o south and longitudes 038o - 039o east and at an elevation ranging from 510 -775 m above sea level. In this region, populations of pancake tortoise are distributed discontinuously in a north-south orientation following the Precambrian basement system that has characteristic exfoliating granitic rock outcrops and kopjes with suitable crevices (Malonza 2003, Spawls et al. 2018). Soils here are generally sandy. The vegetation type of the region is mainly Acacia-Commiphora bushland, dominated by Commiphora, Acacia, Grewia, and Combretum (Wood and Mackay1997). The area experiences two short-lived rainy seasons between October and December, and March and June. Rains are erratic, and thus this region experiences frequent droughts. Rivers and streams are seasonal and usually exist as dry sandy river beds. Human residents often practice subsi..., , # Data from: Reproductive ecology of the critically endangered pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) in the wild

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n5tb2rc43](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n5tb2rc43)

*A brief summary of dataset contents, contextualized in experimental procedures and results:*

The dataset herein provided includes information on adult tortoise morphometric measurements; computation of chi-square test to compare between males and female representation in the sampled population;  mating events as recorded on camera traps and through group-level scan sampling; nest characteristics, eggs laid and their measurements; incubation period,  and calculation of  hatching success rate; morphometric measurements of pancake tortoise hatchlings, and activity-time schedule for pancake tortoises from mating through hatching in the study area in Kitui county – Kenya 

## Description of the data and file structure

The datasets are provided on different excel sheets, but in a single exc...