Radiated Tortoise
Astrochelys radiata
Summary 4
The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is a species in the family Testudinidae. Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can be also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius. As the radiated tortoises are herbivores, grazing constitutes 80-90% of their diets, while they also eat fruits and succulent plants. A favorite food in the wild is the Opuntia...
Diagnosis 5
Growing to a carapace length of up to 16 in (41 cm) and weighing up to 35 lb (16 kg), the radiated tortoise is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful tortoises.[citation needed]
This tortoise has the basic "tortoise" body shape, which consists of the high-domed carapace, a blunt head, and elephantine feet. The legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a variably sized black patch on top of the head.
The carapace of the radiated tortoise is brilliantly marked with yellow lines radiating from the center of each dark plate of the shell, hence its name. This "star" pattern is more finely detailed and intricate than the normal pattern of other star-patterned tortoise species, such as G. elegans of India. The radiated tortoise is also larger than G. elegans, and the scutes of the carapace are smooth, and not raised up into a bumpy, pyramidal shape as is commonly seen in the latter species. There is slight sexual dimorphism. Compared to females, male radiated tortoises usually have longer tails and the notches beneath their tails are more noticeable.
The species is very long-lived. The oldest radiated tortoise ever recorded with certainty was Tu'i Malila, which died at an estimated age of 188.[1] A tortoise named Adwaita is widely believed to have been even older at its death in 2006.[2]
Conservation 5
These tortoises are critically endangered due to habitat loss, being poached for food, and being over exploited in the pet trade. It is listed on CITES Appendix I, commercial trade in wild-caught specimens is illegal (permitted only in exceptional licensed circumstances). However, due to the poor economic conditions of Madagascar, many of the laws are largely ignored.
No estimates of wild populations are available, but their numbers are declining, and many authorities see the potential for a rapid decline to extinction in the wild.[3] In the North American studbook, 332 specimens are listed as participating in captive-breeding programs such as the Species Survival Plan. Captive breeding has shown great promise as in the captive breeding program for the radiated tortoise at the New York Zoological Society's Wildlife Survival Center. In 2005, the Wildlife Survival Center was closed,[4] and the radiated tortoise captive-breeding program was continued with the inception of the Behler Chelonian Center.[5]
In March 2013, smugglers were arrested after carrying a single bag containing 21 radiated tortoises and 54 angonoka tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) through Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand.[6]
On 20 March 2016, the Custom officials at Mumbai airport seized 146 tortoises from a mishandled baggage of a Nepal citizen. This bag was said to belong to a transit passenger, who arrived from Madagascar and flew to Kathmandu leaving this bag behind. Out of the 146 tortoises, 139 were Radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) and seven were angonoka tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora), both critically endangered tortoise species of Madagascar. Two radiated tortoises were found dead with broken shell.[7]
On 12 June 2016, it was reported that 72 radiated tortoises and 6 angonoka tortoises had gone missing from a breeding facility in Thailand.[8]
Sources and Credits 5
- Tortoise Believed to Have Been Owned by Darwin Dies at 176 2nd to last paragraph mentions tu'i Malila's age
- BBC News – South Asia (2006-03-23). "'Clive of India's' tortoise dies". BBC News. BBC Online. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
- "Madagascar's Radiated Tortoise Could Disappear By 2030". Science 2.0.
- Feuer, Alan (29 December 2004). "After 30 Years of Animal Research, Bronx Zoo to Close Island Preserve". The New York Times.
- "Turtle Conservancy".
- "Largest seizure of Critically Endangered Ploughshare Tortoises made in Thailand". Traffic. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- "146 tortoises seized at Mumbai airport from a Nepali national".
- Actman, Jani (12 June 2016). "78 Rare Tortoises Stolen from Breeding Center". National Geographic. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Teague O'Mara, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/93024222@N00/1072049757
- (c) Frédérique MARQUE, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/frederique-marque/8791625753/
- (c) Bartosz MORĄG, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/apocalypsis_cum_figuris/16529032597/
- Adapted by calebcam from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrochelys_radiata
- (c) calebcam, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
