A small tortoise native to southern Africa, often seen on roads and paths.
〈南非〉一种南非小龟，珍龟
Genus Homopus, family Testudinidae: several species
Example sentencesExamples
The shell of the common padloper is relatively flat and the shields on the carapace are smooth with large areolae.
This tiny tortoise has earned its name, padloper - road-walker: it has a habit of taking to the road when it goes for a stroll - oblivious of the fact that by doing so it dices with death.
Origin
Afrikaans, literally 'vagabond', from pad 'path' + loper 'runner'.