The Many Different Types of Tortoises
There are many different types of tortoises living in many different parts of the world. While these animals differ in size, shape, color and may have varied diet and breeding habits, all tortoises share certain features that make them tortoises and not turtles or other reptiles. All tortoises are slow moving land dwelling reptiles that are cold blooded. This means that they use the environment around them to control their body temperature. They belong to the family Testudinidae and have strong legs to hold up their protective shells. The shell of a tortoise is extremely tough and actually molded into their ribcage and spine. The top part of the shell is the carapace and the underside is the smaller plastron.
Tortoises have both an endoskeleton (internal) and a shell or exoskeleton. These animals are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and usually have long life spans. They are also sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females differ in size, although the amount of sexual dimorphism differs among the species. These animals are herbivores but may occasionally eat insects and worms to ingest protein. All tortoises lay eggs, which they bury underground in order to incubate them. Hatching tortoises resemble smaller versions of adults and care completely for themselves. Different types of tortoises live in different habitats all over the world and many have developed interesting characteristics for survival that may be unique to their species.
Some tortoises grow to be enormous animals. The Aldabra tortoise is found living on the Aldabra Atoll islands in the Seychelles. These are among the largest of all tortoises. They can weigh up to 550 pounds and reach lengths of 47 inches. Similar Galapagos tortoises are even larger than Aldabras and can reach lengths of 4 feet and weigh over 600 pounds. These tortoises are found on the Galapagos Islands only. Both these species of large tortoise are extremely vulnerable to extinction. Other tortoise species are extremely small. The Hermann’s tortoise from Europe grows to a maximum length of 6 to 8 inches.
Many types of tortoises have unique adaptations that help them to survive in harsh environments. The Pancake tortoise from Africa has a very flat shaped outer shell that allows it to squeeze into tight rock crevices for protection from predators. Other tortoises survive in extremely tough desert environments because of their ability to dig burrows. The Gopher tortoise is found in the southeastern United States and can dig burrows longer than 40 feet and up to 10 feet deep. These burrows are important to other animals that use them as well. The Desert tortoise can spend up to 95% of its life underground, as it lives in the extremely hot deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. During the colder months these reptiles can even hibernate under the ground.
Some tortoises can be rather colorful. Both the Red-Footed tortoise and its larger cousin the Yellow-Footed tortoise from central and southern America are adorned with colorful legs, faces and shells. These colors can be red or orange and yellow.
Tortoises are often sought after in the pet trade because of their ease of care and interesting attributes. Some species can grow very large and require large outdoor pens, while others stay small enough to remain in terrariums inside the home. Regardless of the species type, all captive tortoises require a healthy and complete diet, full sunlight and lots of exercise. They are often very social creatures that benefit from interactions with humans. Many species of tortoises are endangered or threatened and may require certain permits to keep legally in captivity.