Radiated tortoise

Description

The radiated tortoise is considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. It has a dark shell with bright yellow lines radiating from the centre of each plate of the shell. The legs and head are yellow, except the upper section of the head which is a darker colour. Their young are black and whitish, but quickly change to the adult colouration.

Ethology

In the mating season, males fight each other and try to roll each other over on their backs. The female lays 3 to 12 eggs in a clutch dug into the ground. The eggs hatch after 10 months.

Interesting facts

The main threat to the survival of the radiated tortoise is the loss and fragmentation of their habitat. However, another very significant threat is capture from the natural environment for illegal trafficking as pets and for consumption of their meat by the local population. It is estimated that over 45,000 adult tortoises are captured from their natural environment each year