Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo Elongata)
Conservation status
IUCN: Red List: Vulnerable
Key Descriptions
The Elongated Tortoise, also known as the Yellow Tortoise due to its coloration is a medium sized tortoise originating from various parts of South East Asia as well as India. While its coloration & pattern vary throughout individual specimens, they are commonly found to be sporting a pale yellowish tan with males easily distinguished during the breeding season with a unique pink coloration around its nose.
Habitat
The Elongated Tortoise occur naturally in tropical forests throughout Asia where they spend most of their time foraging for food including slugs as well as plant matter due to its omnivorous nature. They can be found in a variety of habitats from dry to humid which in turn influences their basking behaviour. These include the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia as well as parts of northeast India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand & Malaysia.
Social Life
Elongated tortoises are active mostly at dawn & dusk and have thus adapted to thriving in low light environments with its large eyes. Like most tortoises which range throughout the tropical rainforests, they are highly motivated during the rainy season which coincides with their breeding cycle. Breeding behaviour have been observed to be highly aggressive among male Elongated Tortoises, who engage in aggressive courtship behaviour by shoving females & biting voraciously around the head, neck & front legs.
Fun Facts
- Elongated tortoises are very calm species, but males show some aggression during the mating season through vocal cues and even tend to bite if disturbed. But in general, they are calm and easy-going, living on their own.
- Females tend to be wider than males and more rounded. Males also have a tail that is much larger than that of the female. The males have a concave plastron while the plastron of a female is flat. Additionally, the female’s posterior claws are markedly longer and more curved than those of the male. It is believed that this is to facilitate nest building.
- This species of tortoise can be seen everywhere in Ban Kok, a village in Suan Mon sub-district, Mancha Khiri district about 50 km (31.1 mi) from Khon Kaen city in Isan (northeastern) Thailand. These tortoises habitually coexisted with the villagers with nothing to harm them for more than 200 years since the village was founded. They are locally known as tao pek (เต่าเพ็ก).
Diet
Fruits, Vegetables, Insects
Key Information
| Origin: | South East Asia |
| Size: | Up to 40cm |
| Weight: | Up to 3.5kg |
| Lifespan: | Up to 20years |