A surprisingly social and zippy pet

Dotty the desert tortoise explores her enclosure at Scottsdale in Arizona, US. ­— AP

They’re not fluffy, they don’t play fetch and they certainly don’t roll over. But there is such a thing as a lap tortoise.

What’s more, pet tortoises can wag their tails, will plod on up to greet you and some can even recognise their own names.