Travancore Tortoise (Indotestudo Travancorica)
Conservation status
IUCN: Red List: Vulnerable
Key Descriptions
A forest dwelling species, the Travancore tortoise is a medium sized tortoise native to the highlands & mountains of the Western Ghats in southwest India. It occurs naturally in evergreen, moist deciduous & bamboo forests as well as in rubber & teak plantations near streams & marshes. They are mostly active during the early part of the rainy season which coincides with their breeding cycle.
Habitat
They can be found foraging on the forest floor of India
Social Life
Mainly Solitary animals, the Travancore tortoise wanders around its habitat alone unless its mating season.
Fun Facts
- Males combat by ramming their shell during their breeding season between November and March.
- It makes a shallow nest in the ground and lay 1 to 5 eggs. Hatchlings are 55–60 mm in size.
- The tortoises are very docile and calm creatures and are not at all dangerous. Only during the mating period, males show some signs of aggression if disturbed.
Diet
FruitsVegetables, and small insects.
Key Information
| Origin: | South West India |
| Size: | Up to 33 cm |
| Weight: | – |
| Lifespan: | – |