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| Yellow-footed
Tortoise |
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| Common
Name: |
yellow-footed
tortoise, South American tortoise, South American forest tortoise |
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| Class:
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Reptilia |
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| Order: |
Chelonia |
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| Family:
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Testudinidae |
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| Genus
species: |
Geochelone
denticulata |
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| Fast
Facts |
| Description:
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shell
is thick and heavy; shell is dark brown with patches of yellow; limbs
and head are brown with some orange scales and markings; skin is black
with yellow markings on the head and lower jaw; some scales on the
limbs and tail are bright yellow |
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| Size:
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males
40 cm (16 in), females 60 to 75 cm (24 - 30 in) |
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| Weight:
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11.25
to 15.75 (25 to 35 lb.) |
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| Diet:
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grasses,
succulent plants, fallen fruit, and carrion |
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| Incubation: |
4 to
8 eggs; incubation is generally from 105 to 202 days |
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| Sexual
maturity: |
8 to
10 years |
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| Life
span: |
50 years |
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| Range:
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| Habitat:
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dense
rainforest and tropical lowlands; South America |
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| Population: |
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| Status:
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not
listed by USFWS, CITES Appendix II |
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| Fun
Facts |
| 1. |
Yellow-footed
tortoises are named for the yellow-orange scales on their front legs.
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| 2. |
They
mate year round. Males tell other males from females by watching for
head movements. If no responsive head movement is seen after two tortoises
encounter each other, the male assumes the other individual is a female. |
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| 3. |
Yellow-footed
tortoises are hunted for food in their native countries. Tortoises
are considered "fish" by the Catholic Church and during
holy week, red and yellow-foots are consumed in huge quantities. |
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| 4. |
In some
parts of Venezuela the local people may set fire to entire hillsides
so that they are able to harvest exposed (and presumably often roasted)
tortoises. |
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| Ecology
and Conservation |
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In
its range, the biggest threat to the survival of yellow-footed tortoises
is over-hunting by man. Yellow-foots are collected in large numbers
and shipped to many different South American cities to be sold as
a delicacy. Another threat facing yellow-foot populations is the
ever-present habitat loss and disturbance.
Exportation
for the pet trade also has a negative effect on yellow-footed tortoises,
although it is much less of a threat to their survival than either
hunting or habitat loss. The natural history of the yellow-footed
tortoise provides insight into two areas, the susceptibility of
this species to over-hunting and habitat loss, and captive husbandry
and reproduction. The yellow-footed tortoise is not currently endangered,
however if over-hunting and habitat loss continue, it will most
likely make the list. Conservation efforts include the establishment
and protection of wildlife reserves and national parks, where yellow-footed
tortoises and other animals are protected from hunting.
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| Bibliography |
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Ernst,
C. & R. W. Barbour, Turtles of the World, Smithsonian Institution
Press, Washington, DC and London, 1989.
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Pritchard,
P. C. H., Encyclopedia of Turtles, T.F.H. Publications, New Jersey,
1979. |
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Virginia
Russell. African Spurred Tortoise. The Cold Blooded News, V24: 7.
July, 1997. |
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Walker,
P. 1989. "Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed Tortoise" In
Conservation Biology of Tortoises ed. Swingland, I. R. and W. Michael.
Kelvyn Press, Inc. Broadview Il. |
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Honolulu
Zoo. http://www.honoluluzoo.org/red-footed_tortoise.htm |
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http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHredfoot.htm |
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Pantanal 2002 |
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