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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
yellow-footed
tortoise, South American tortoise, South American
forest tortoise |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Testudines
(somes sources cite as Chelonia) |
| FAMILY: |
Testudinidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Geochelone
denticulata |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
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: |
|
| MALE |
40 cm (16 in) |
| FEMALE |
60-75 cm (24-30 in) |
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| WEIGHT: |
11.25-15.75
kg (25-35 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Grasses,
succulent plants, fallen fruit, and carrion |
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| INCUBATION: |
Generally
from 105-202 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
4-8
eggs |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
Year
round |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
8-10
years |
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| HABITAT: |
Dense
rainforest and tropical lowlands |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
No
data |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 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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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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| |
|
|
| 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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|
Russell,
Virginia. 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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