Radiated Tortoise

Range:
Southern and southwestern Madagascar, but have been introduced on the nearby island of Reunion

Habitat:
Arid thorn forests of southern Madagascar

Size:
Length: 13-16 in; Weight: 35 lbs

Young:
3-12 spherical brittle-shelled eggs.

Incubation:
Incubation period is from 145-231 days.

Diet (wild):
Grazer (herbivore); feed on grasses, fruits, and succulents.

Diet (zoo):
A number of fruits, carrots, apples, bananas, alfalfa sprouts, sweet potatoes, and melons

Lifespan (wild):
~ 40-50 years

Lifespan (captivity):
~ 60 - 100 years.

Status:
Vulnerable by the IUCN, endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and on CITES Appendix I

Threats:
Loss of habitat, poaching for a food source, and the pet trade

Anatomy/Physiology:
It is one of the most beautiful tortoise species. The shell has dark plates with bright yellow lines radiating from the center of each shell. It has a high-domed carapace, blunt head, and elephantine feet. Its legs and feet are yellow, as is its head except a black patch on top. Males generally have a longer tail than females.

Social/Family units:
Solitary

Habits:
They like to stay in patches of cactus.

Communication:
Hissing, grunting, and head bobbing. When caught they will let out a high pitched cry and this cry can last up to an hour after capture.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
Retracts into its shell for protection and will let out a high pitched cry to scare away predators. The males frequently fight during breeding season. They will ram each other with the fore-section of their shells.

Predators:
Man (sometimes uses this as a food source).

Locomotion:
Slow moving quadruped.

Activity:
Diurnal

Interesting story/facts:
Radiated tortoises are among the world’s rarer tortoises. The shell is supplied with blood vessels and nerves it can feel when being touched. Some Chinese will pay the equivalent of $50 for a radiated tortoise to eat. They are also believed to have aphrodisiac properties.