“…Geophagy is a common habit for many chelonian species, which results in the ingestion of foreign bodies, lodged in the substrate (Matushima, 2001). Those bodies may obstruct the gastrointestinal tract and lead them to death, or even damage the gastroenteric walls, reduce nutritional gain and increase intestinal transit (Bjorndal 1997, Oliveira et al, 2009. Tortoises, turtles and terrapins are vertebrates with similar organ systems to mammals.…”