Indian star tortoise
| Indian star tortoise | |
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| Tortoise at the Houston Zoo | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Geochelone |
| Species: | G. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Geochelone elegans Schoepf, 1795 |
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The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a species of tortoise found in dry areas and scrub forest in India and Sri Lanka. This species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade.
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[edit] Anatomy and morphology
Carapace very convex, dorsal shields often forming humps; lateral margins nearly vertical; posterior margin somewhat expanded and strongly serrated; no nuchal; supracaudal undivided, incurved in the male; shields strongly striated concentrically; first vertebral longer than broad, the others broader than long, third at least as broad as the corresponding costal. Plastron large, truncated or openly notched in front, deeply notched, bifid behind; suture between the humerals much longer than that between the femorals; suture between the pectorals very short; axillary and inguinal rather small. Head moderate; forehead swollen, convex, and covered with rather small and irregular shields; beak feebly hooked, bi- or tricuspid; edge of jaws denticulated; alveolar ridge of upper jaw strong. Outer-anterior face of fore limb with numerous unequal-sized, large, imbricate, bony, pointed tubercles; heel with large, more or less spur-like tubercles; a group of large conical or subconical tubercles on the hinder side of the thigh. Carapace black, with yellow areolae from which yellow streaks radiate; these streaks usually narrow and very numerous: plastron likewise with black and yellow radiating streaks. The Indian star tortoise can grow 10 inches long. [1]
The patterning although highly contrasting is disruptive and breaks the outline of the tortoise as it sits in the shade of grass or vegetation. They are mostly herbivorous and feed on grasses, fallen fruit, flowers and leaves of succulent plants, and will occasionally eat carrion. In captivity however they should never be fed meat.
The sexual dimorphism of adult Indian star tortoises is quite apparent. Females are considerably larger than their male counterparts. In addition, the females plastron is much flatter than that of the males which has a concave shape.
The shape of this creature is presumed to be specially adapted to naturally assist it to return to a stable stance after it has been turned over. Mathematicians Gábor Domokos of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and Péter Várkonyi of Princeton University designed a homogenous object called Gömböc that has exactly one unstable balance point and exactly one stable balance point. Just as a bottom-weighted (non-homogenous weight distribution) sphere would always return to the same upright position, they found it was possible to construct a shape that behaves the same way. After that, they noted the similarity to the Indian Star Turtle and subsequently tested 30 turtles by turning them upside down. They found that many of them were self-righting.[2][3]
[edit] Range and distribution
Ranging from India (except Lower Bengal), extending west to Sindh province (Pakistan): and Ceylon.
[edit] Importance to humans
[edit] In captivity
Raising these animals in captivity is extremely difficult and should be left to those with advanced tortoise experience and those willing to devote hours to research, observation and foraging and growing their required food demands. They are very finicky eaters and gain weight extremely slowly. Hatchlings would rather sleep than eat and most succumb in the first months of life. They also require a diet with a specific phosphorus to calcium ratio and a full UVB spectrum light that will allow them to synthesise vitamin D3. Failure to do this and to give correct dosages of supplements will result in soft shell and malnourished tortoise. These species are also prone to respiratory problems and should not be kept in a vivarium. A large open topped tortoise table with a heat lamp (never underfloor heat mat) at one end to provide a basking spot of 30-32 degrees Celsius is required. They are also highly susceptible to pathogens and should always be kept completely separate from any other species. A typical hatchling in the United States costs about $500 from a reputable dealer and you should be prepared to lose this investment if you do not have significant experience with tortoises. It is best to have a close relationship with a veterinarian who has experience with tortoise care. Capturing this tortoise from the wild is illegal in India.
A large number of specimens of this species are found in the illegal wildlife trade in India. Few studies exist which have quantified wild populations and the effect of trade on them.
[edit] References
- ^ Boulenger, G.A.(1890) Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
- ^ CBC Quirks and Quarks 2007-10-27: "Turning Turtles". Interview with Dr. Gabor Domokos.
- ^ Varkonyi, P.L., Domokos, G.: Mono-monostatic bodies: the answer to Arnold's question. The Mathematical Intelligencer, 28 (4) pp 34–38.(2006.)
[edit] Bibliography
- Asian Turtle Trade Working Group (2000). Geochelone elegans. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Indian star tortoise |
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