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.

1. TORTOISE
Presented by
Md. Rakibul Hasan Rakib
Bangladesh Agricultural University

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

6. Habitat
 Desert
 Grasslands
 Shrubby areas
 Forest
 Water

7. Geographical location
 Galapagos Tortoise : Lives in the
volcanic
Galapagos
 Desert Tortoise : Lives in USA &
Mexico

8. Feeding
 Omnivorous & Herbivorous
Vegetables ( Cabbage , Carrot)
Fruit ( Mango, Sweet Potato, Apple)
Leaves
Flower
Insects Larvae
Worm
Additional Protein

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: 30c

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

15. Continued…
B.Chemical Restraint
 Morphine
 Hydromorphone
 Butorphanol
 Meloxicam
 Ketamine

16. Diseases
-Respiratory infection
- Metabollic bone diseases
- Constipation
- Eye infection
- Septicaemia
- Diarrhoea

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

18. Continued….
Management
• Kept under full spectrum sunlight
• Ca enriched diet
• Vitamin supplement

19. Thanks to all