Natural History of Geochelone elegans

         On our class field trip to the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) center in South Carolina, I encountered many different Testudines species. One of which I found particularly interesting was the Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans). Pictured below:

        This (above) individual looked to be a young adult in their life stage. The TSA breeds endangered turtle species for their survival. The Indian Star Tortoise is an endangered species that has been poached along with having its habitat encroached upon, contributing to its population decline. This individual was housed in its own pen with lighting for warmth and mulch to dig in. The Indian Star Tortoise is native to Asia, specifically India and Sri Lanka. It is terrestrial, feeding on a herbivorous diet of grass and flowers. 

    There is a sexual dimorphism with this species, I discovered, with size. Males are typically smaller than their female counterparts. Their carapace is domed, with yellow streaks dorsally hence its name. They have thick legs and a hooked beak. They can also grow to a foot long (for females) and around 8 inches for males. Their tails are thick and long. Females have a flatter carapace to allow the male to mount easily during copulation. I thought this experience was very interesting and opened my eyes to a broader scope of turtle care.