Elongated Tortoise is an Indian Reptile that bears a scientific name "Indotestudo elongate". This reptile is a species of tortoise, which are widely found in Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia.
Structure of Elongated Tortoise
The shell of Elongated tortoise is considerably depressed. It is more than twice as long as deep, with flat vertebral region; anterior and posterior margins slightly reverted, strongly serrated in young, feebly in old specimens; shields concentrically striated, except in old specimens; nuchal present (rarely absent), narrow and elongate; supracaudal undivided, more or less incurved; first vertebral usually nearly as long as broad in the adult, the others broader than long and nearly as broad as the costal. Plastron large, truncate interiorly, deeply notched posterior; suture between the pectoral shields as long as or longer than that between the humeral; suture between the gulars as long as or a little shorter than that between the pectorals; anals forming a very short suture, or entirely separated by the anal notch; auxiliary and inguinal moderate. Head moderate; a pair of large prefrontal shields, usually followed by a nearly equally large frontal; beak feebly hooked, tricuspid; alveolar ridge of upper jaw short and rather feeble.
Face of Elongated Tortoise
The anterior face and the fore limbs of Elongated Tortoise with moderate, unequal-sized, imbricate scales, which are largest towards the outer side; no enlarged tubercles on the thighs; tail ending in a claw-like horny tubercle. Carapace and Plastron are greenish yellow, each shield with an irregular black spot or blotch, which may occupy its greater portion, or may be much broken up or indistinct.
Structure of Elongated Tortoise
Elongated Tortoises are around 30 cm (12 inches) long and 3.5 kg (7 pounds) as an adult. Females tend to be wider than males and more rounded. Males also have a tail that is much larger than that of the female.
Sexes of Elongated Tortoise
The males have a concave plastron while the plastron of a female is flat. Additionally, the female`s posterior claws are markedly longer and more curved than those of the male. It is believed that this is to facilitate nest building.
Concentration of Elongated Tortoise
Elongated Tortoise is found in Nepal, Bangladesh and Indian states like West Bengal, Assam, Jalpaiguri District and the Manipur region. They are also found in Bangladesh, and Singhbhum District in Bihar, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Western Malaysia, and Southern China, Arakan, Tenasserim, Burma.
Threats to Elongated Tortoise
The principle threats to Elongated Tortoise are the mass harvesting of the remaining wild populations for the large and growing food markets in China and elsewhere in East Asia. Elongated Tortoise is also incorrectly believed in China that a mixture, made by grinding up the shell of the tortoise, serves as an aphrodisiac.
Natural habitat of Elongated Tortoise
Elongated Tortoise browses a wide variety of plants. Likewise in captivity, they require a very wide range of foods, not just one type of vegetable. Their diet is principally a range of vegetables and edible leaves; however they also consume meat, snails, eggs and other food types. This serves to supplement their diet. Vegetables alone are not sufficiently varied.
Adaptability of Elongated Tortoise
This tropical species- Elongated Tortoise does not survive in cold climates. Those exported to Europe and North America for the pet trade usually suffer, and soon die, if they are not given special indoor care. They also require a constant water source, for bathing and drinking. Being reptiles, which cannot control their body temperature internally, they require a varied area in which they can access both sun and shade. This allows them to move around and thus to regulate and maintain their body temperature constant.
