Ryan Photographic - Testudinidae - Tortoises


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Testudinidae

There are 50 extant species of tortoise in 12 genera. All tortoises share a very similar morphology and are characterized by possessing a shell made up of a modified rib cage and the vertebral column. This makes them immune to all but the biggest predators. Adult tortoises of the largest species must be immune to anything except being sat on by an elephant.

Sadly, many species are considered a delicacy throughout Asia and as a result many species are highly endangered. Even species not directly threatened by humans are at risk because of human introduced rats which find the eggs and hatchling tortoises a convenient snack.

Tortoises are amongst the longest lived of all the vertebrates and 150 years does not seem unreasonable for the biggest species. Most tortoises are extremely hardy and can go for long periods without food. There is even a record of a Seychelles giant tortoise floating all the way to Africa - a voyage of 740 km (462 miles for the Americans). The growth of barnacles on the animal's legs suggest the tortoise spent 6-7 weeks at sea.

Tortoises are found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. For more information you can check this link written by my friend George Zug..

 

Centrochelys sulcata African spurred tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata, African spurred tortoise

TORT 3535 Centrochelys sulcata, African spurred tortoise (captive)

Centrochelys sulcata Spurred tortoise hatching

Centrochelys sulcata Spurred tortoise hatching

Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise

Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise, Rock View Lodge, Guyana

TORT 8911 Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise, Rock View Lodge, Guyana

Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Rock View Lodge, Guyana

TORT 8898 Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Rock View Lodge, Guyana

Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Rock View Lodge, Guyana

TORT 8913 Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Rock View Lodge, Guyana

Geochelone elegans Star tortoise

Geochelone elegans Sri Lankan star tortoise

Geochelone elegans Sri Lankan star tortoise

Geochelone elegans Juvenile starred tortoise

Geochelone elegans Sri Lankan star tortoise, hatchling on hand

Geochelone gigantia Aldabra tortoise

Geochelone gigantia Aldabra tortoise

Geochelone gigantea Aldabra tortoise head on

Geochelone gigantea Aldabra tortoise  captive

TORT 7486 Geochelone gigantea Aldabra tortoise captive

Geochelone gigantea, Aldabra giant tortoise head shot lateral

TORT 8490 Geochelone gigantea, Aldabra giant tortoise head shot lateral

Geochelone gigantea Aldabra tortoise head shot captive

TORT 8486 Geochelone gigantea Aldabra tortoise head shot captive

Gopherus agassizii Desert tortoise

Gopherus agassizii Desert tortoise, Joshua Tree

Gopherus agassizii Adult desert tortoise photographed in Joshua Tree National Monument

Gopherus berlandieri, Texas or Berlandier's tortoise

Gopherus berlandieri, Texas or Berlandier's tortoise

Gopherus berlandieri, Texas or Berlandier's tortoise, captive

Manouria emys Burmese mountain tortoise

Manouria emys Brown mountain tortoise captive

TORT 9762 Manouria emys Brown mountain tortoise captive

Manouria emys Burmese mountain tortoise

Manouria emys Burmese mountain tortoise

Manouria emys Burmese mountain tortoise head shot

Manouria emys Burmese mountain tortoise head shot

Pyxis arachnoides Spider tortoise

Pyxis arachnoides Spider tortoise

Pyxis arachnoides Spider tortoise hatchling, captive

Testudo graeca Greek tortoise

Testudo graeca Greek tortoise

Testudo graeca Greek tortoise

 

 

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