Indotestudo elongata (Blyth 1854) – Elongated Tortoise, Yellow-headed Tortoise, Yellow Tortoise.

Abstract

The Elongated Tortoise, Indotestudo elongata (Family Testudinidae), is a mediumsized tortoise with a straight carapace length of up to 360 mm. The species is sexually dimorphic; among the morphological differences between the sexes, males and females differ in facial coloration during the breeding season. Indotestudo elongata inhabits low to mid-elevation habitats in Southeast Asia: open deciduous dipterocarp forests, grasslands, bamboo forests, secondary forests, and hilly evergreen forests. The species is a generalist omnivore. In the wild, courtship and mating take place at the beginning of the rainy season. Clutches of up to 10 eggs are laid toward the end of the wet period; hatchlings emerge from the nest at the beginning of the subsequent rainy season. The species is heavily exploited by humans for food and traditional medicine across its range. In addition, I. elongata is greatly affected by habitat destruction, fragmentation, and loss. As a result, although protected by international and national regulations, the species has undergone severe population declines. Recommended conservation measures include greater enforcement of wildlife protection laws, conservation breeding and monitored releases of tortoises, and continued research. DIsTrIbuTIon.

Amphibians and reptiles from Lawachara National Park in Bangladesh

“…Identification. Unique in the region, I. elongata is a yellowish-brown tortoise of moderate size (our specimens up to 33 cm long) with a domed carapace and pinkishred markings on the face during breeding season (Ihlow et al 2016). Habitat.…”

An Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) Attempting to Prey on a Buff-striped Keelback (Amphiesma stolatum) at the Turtle Rescue and Conservation Centre in Eastern Nepal

“…WWW.IRCF.ORG T he Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) is distributed across southeastern Asia, including northern India, southern Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh (Sharma 1998;Schleich and Kästle 2002;Bonin et al 2006;Kästle et al 2013;Ihlow et al 2016;Uetz et al 2019). In Nepal, it is well documented in the Terai with some records from the midlands (Schleich and Kästle 2002;Kästle et al 2013;Kiesl and Schleich 2016;Rai 2019).…”

How long can an Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) survive without food?

“…T he Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), with a range that encompasses southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, western Malaysia, and southern China (Uetz et al 2021), is the only tortoise native to Nepal. It inhabits a variety of habitats, including open deciduous dipterocarp, mountainous and hilly evergreen, mixed semi-evergreen, and secondary forests, as well as savannah grasslands and dry thorn scrub (Bonin et al 2006;Ihlow et al 2016;Rahman et al 2019). In Nepal it is typically associated with Sal (Shorea robusta) dominated forest (Schleich and Kästle 2002;Kästle et al 2013).…”

“…Elongated Tortoises are omnivorous generalists and feed on a variety of foods according to availability by habitat (Ihlow et al 2016;Rai 2020). It is primarily crepuscular and is most active during the rainy season (Schleich and Kästle 2002;Ihlow et al 2016;Rai 2020).…”

“…Elongated Tortoises are omnivorous generalists and feed on a variety of foods according to availability by habitat (Ihlow et al 2016;Rai 2020). It is primarily crepuscular and is most active during the rainy season (Schleich and Kästle 2002;Ihlow et al 2016;Rai 2020). The Elongated Tortoise is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Rahman et al 2019) and is included in Appendix II of CITES.…”