This document provides information about tortoises, including their classification, characteristics, habitats, feeding behaviors, reproduction, differences from turtles, diseases, and management. Tortoises are large land-dwelling reptiles with a hard shell. They live in deserts, grasslands, forests and other areas. Tortoises are herbivorous and omnivorous, feeding on plants and some insects. Males and females differ in size and other physical attributes. Common diseases include respiratory infections and metabolic bone disease. Proper husbandry and dietary calcium supplementation can help manage diseases.
2. Lecture Outline
Classification of Tortoise
Characteristics
Habitat
Geographical distribution
Feeding behaviour
Reproduction
Difference between male & female tortoise
Difference between turtle & tortoise
Restraining procedure
Diseases
Management of diseases
3. Taxonomic Classification
of Tortoise
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Sub-Phylum : Vertebrata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family :Testudinidae
Genus : Indotestudo
Species : I. elongata
4. Physical Characteristics of
Tortoise
Large & medium size
Rounded in shape
Length : 19- 51 inches
Dark coloured upper
shell ( black / Gray / Brown)
5. Continued…
Top part of shell is known as
“Carapace”
Lower part of shell is known as
“plastron”
Life Span : Almost 200 years
9. Hibernation
Approximately 3
month period of
hibernation
Start getting ready
for hibernating in
late August-September
Hibernate for next
3 months
10. Reproduction
There are 2 types of breeding
1.Natural breeding
2.Captive breeding
Breeding Season : Spring
Egg no: 1to30
Incubation Period: 60 to 120
Temparature: 30c
11. Continued…
Humidity:70%
The tiny eggs are segregated into
clutches of tow or twelve
Clutch is covered with sand, soil and
organic materials.
12. Difference
Points Male Female
1. Length Long Small
2. Neck plate More
protruding
Less protruding
3. Claw Short Long
4Tail Long Small
5. Plastron Smaller Larger
13. Difference between Turtles &
Tortoises
Turtles are the ones that swim in the
water & their shell is bigger than a
tortoises
Tortoises are the ones that stay on
land but very rarely they go in the
water
14. Restraining and Control
A.Physical Restraint
A baby tortoise can be marely
encircled with the fingers & thumb, and
physicaly lifted
Larger tortoise should be grasped in
both hands, one on each side of the
shell between the forelimbs and the
hindlimbs
17. Continued….
Metabollic bone diseases
It is also known as nutritional secondary
hyperparathyroidism.
Cause : Lack of Ca in diet
Symptom
-Semi soft shell
- Shell become deforme & weak