Travancore tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Travancore tortoise |
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| Adult in the Anaimalai Hills | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Indotestudo
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| Species: |
travancorica
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| Synonyms | |
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The Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) is a large tortoise that lives in forests. It can grow up to 330 millimetres (13 in) long. This special tortoise was first described by a scientist named George Albert Boulenger in 1907.
These tortoises mostly eat plants like grasses and herbs. They also enjoy other foods, including small molluscs, insects, and fruits. Sometimes, they even eat parts of dead animals or fungi.
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Where They Live
The Travancore tortoise lives in hill forests. You can find them at heights between 450 and 850 meters above sea level. They are found in the Western Ghats mountain range in India. Specifically, they live in the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
What They Look Like
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It's easy to spot a Travancore tortoise by a few key features.
- They do not have a small plate (called a scute) right behind their head.
- The second scute along their backbone is the highest point on their shell.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Travancore tortoises have a special breeding season. This usually happens between November and March. During this time, male tortoises might ram their shells into each other. This is how they compete for mates.
Female tortoises dig a shallow nest in the ground. They lay a small number of eggs, usually between 1 and 5. When the baby tortoises hatch, they are quite small, about 55 to 60 mm long.
Protecting the Travancore Tortoise
Sadly, the Travancore tortoise is facing many dangers. It is considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List. This means it is at risk of becoming extinct.
Threats to Their Survival
- Hunting: People sometimes hunt these tortoises.
- Forest fires: Fires in their forest homes destroy their habitat.
- Habitat destruction: Their natural living areas are being lost.
- Habitat fragmentation: Their homes are being broken up into smaller, separate pieces. This makes it harder for them to find food and mates.
The Travancore tortoise is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India. It is listed in Schedule IV of this act.
Local Names
People in different parts of India have special names for the Travancore tortoise.
- Tamil: periya amai or kal amai
- Kadas: vengala amai
- Kannada: betta aame, gudde aame, or kadu aame
- Malayalam: kattu aama
