Red footed tortoise turtle chelonoidis carbonarius cover photo - 219106939

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The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) is a species of tortoise from northern South America. These medium-sized tortoises generally average 30 cm as adults, but can reach over 40 cm. They have dark-colored, loaf-shaped carapaces (back shell) with a lighter patch in the middle of each scute (scales on the shell), and dark limbs with brightly colored scales that range from pale yellow to dark red. Recognized differences are seen between red-footed tortoises from different regions. They are closely related to the yellow-footed tortoise (C. denticulata) from the Amazon Basin. They are popularly kept as pets, and over-collection has caused them to be vulnerable to extinction.Their natural habitat ranges from savannah to forest edges around the Amazon Basin. They are omnivorous with a diet based on a wide assortment of plants, mostly fruit when available, but also including grasses, flowers, fungi, carrion, and invertebrates. They do not brumate, but may aestivate in hot, dry weather.Eggs, hatchlings, and juvenile tortoises are food for many predators, but the main threats for adults are jaguars and humans. Population density ranges from locally common to very scarce due in part to habitat destruction and over-collection for food and the pet trade.

reptile animal turtle lizard amphibian tortoise wildlife snake frog fish serpent crocodile red footed chelonoidis carbonarius red footed species northern south america medium sized tortoises dark colored loaf shaped carapaces shell lighter middle scute scales dark limbs brightly colored pale yellow red differences regions yellow footed denticulata amazon basin pets over collection vulnerable extinction natural habitat ranges savannah forest edges omnivorous based wide assortment plants fruit available grasses flowers invertebrates brumate aestivate dry weather hatchlings juvenile food predators threats jaguars humans population density scarce pet trade