Star Turtle
Family name: Tortoiseidae
Chinese name: Star Turtle
Scientific name: Geochelone elegans
Genus name: Geochelone
Food habits : Mainly grass-fed, but can be fed animal food in captivity.
Distribution: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Morphological characteristics: The maximum carapace length is 38 cm, with 2 throat shields, the carapace and plastron markings are radial, and there is no neck shield.
Living habits: Inhabit drier areas such as shrubs, deserts or farmlands.
The distribution area includes most of India, southeastern Pakistan and all of Sri Lanka. There are at least three geographically isolated mutant species. It is likely that these mutant species will be classified into several sub-species in the future. species or even several different species. The star tortoises found in northern India (Gujalat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Pakistan) are all particularly large and have relatively bright colors. Deep. The black pattern on the carapace is more brown, which gives people a bit "dirty" feeling compared with individuals from the south. From the south (Tamil Nadu Province, Kerara Province and Kama Province) The individuals in Karnataka (Taka Province) are much smaller than those in the north. The flower colors are also more vivid, with a creamy yellow background and pure black patterns. The body color of Sri Lankan individuals is very similar to that of southern India, but they can grow to be as long as Star tortoises in northern India and Pakistan are about the same size.
Star tortoises represent a group of tortoises with distinctive radial patterns on their carapace. The variability of this pattern is found in some African and a few Asian tortoises. Very common. Although the color is very dazzling, it is a very protective color. Tortoises with this star pattern include the radiated tortoise, spider web tortoise, flat-back spider web tortoise in Madagascar and the star bush tortoise and pancake tortoise in southern Africa. , the Geometric tortoise and the Burmese star tortoise in Asia. All these tortoises with star patterns were purchased in large quantities by consumers and pet dealers through various legal and illegal channels when reptile breeding was just emerging in the earliest days. In addition, Habitats are constantly being destroyed by indiscriminate cultivation, resulting in these terrestrialAll turtles are endangered. The most common of these species is the Indian star tortoise, mainly because there has been an endless supply of wild individuals from Sri Lanka for a long time. The star tortoise can be regarded as the most common tortoise in Taiwan. However, most of them are wild larvae under 5 centimeters. Because the appearance of the rice pattern is very bright and the price is relatively affordable among tortoises, they are widely welcomed by the market. They have become the largest imported tortoise in Taiwan. The annual import volume is Thousands. Unfortunately, the relative number of deaths is also huge. Because the mortality rate of hatchlings under 5 cm is as high as more than 80%, and it is rare to be able to raise them to adulthood.
Star tortoises are also elephant tortoises The smallest species in the family (Geochelone). However, they are close relatives of leopard tortoises. According to the thickness of the patterns, they can be divided into Indian star tortoises and Sri Lankan star tortoises. The former has thinner star lines and the same thickness at the head and tail; the latter has thinner lines. It is thick and will be enlarged at the end. The rice-shaped star pattern is a protective color in the place of origin. It is difficult for predators to detect the star tortoise in the hay. The normal bulge of the adult tortoise's carapace is very obvious, which is slightly different from the general hump. Star tortoises are also among the species that require more water. Therefore, it is best for young tortoises to bathe in water every day and bask in the sun frequently. In terms of food, they are similar to leopard tortoises, requiring high-fiber forage or fruits and vegetables with low water content. Calcium powder can be added to tortoise feed 1-3 times a week to allow the hatchlings to grow quickly and escape from the size of high mortality as soon as possible. However, the amount of food must be accurately controlled
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