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The Brazilian Giant Tortoise by M. A. Cohen

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The Brazilian Giant Tortoise by M. A. Cohen November | December 2017 the Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 6 California Turtle & Tortoise Club founded in 1964 and dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education Adult female yellow-footed tortoise, Chelonoidis denticulata measuring 17 inches (43 ccentimeters) in carapace length and 11 inches (28 centimeters) in carapace width. Photo © 2017 by Kirk Weber, reprinted with permission. Yellow-footed Tortoise, Chelonoidis denticulata (Linnaeus, 1766) The Brazilian Giant Tortoise by M. A. Cohen ormerly assigned to the gen- officially described the yellow-footed Closely related to the red-footed tor- era Testudo and Geochelone, tortoise in 1766, naming the species toise, C. carbonaria, the yellow-footed F the yellow-footed tortoise cur- Testudo denticulata. Recognized for his tortoise is the less studied of the two. rently belongs to the genus Chelonoidis, development of the scientific system The yellow-footed tortoise is the larger the species of South American tortoises of binomial (two-name) nomenclature of the two species, has a less contrast- that also include the Galápagos tortoise (naming technique), Linnaeus is known ing coloration on its carapace, and is (C. nigra), the Chaco tortoise (C. chilen- as the Father of Taxonomy, the method sympatric with its close relative, mean- sis), and the Red-footed tortoise (C. of scientifically classifying organisms. ing the two species occur in the same carbonaria). The yellow-footed tortoise, a mem- geographic areas. While the red-footed Also known as Carolus Linnaeus ber of the Testudinidae family of tortoise prefers open, savannah-grass- and Carl von Linné, Swedish botanist tortoises, is the largest mainland tor- land habitats, the yellow-footed tortoise and zoologist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) toise on the continent of South America. prefers canopied rainforest habitats. 2 Often called the yellow- able of Contents footed tortoise, C. denticulata T also has several other com- mon names, including the Featured Species Brazilian giant tortoise, the Yellow-footed Tortoise South American forest tor- Chelonoidis denticulata toise, and yellow-foot. The “preferred Span- 1 The Brazilian Giant Tortoise by M. A. Cohen ish vernacular name” of the yellow-footed tortoise is Table of Contents 2 morrocoy amarillo, while the 4 The Turtle’s Garden: Six Traditional Holi- local indigenous peoples day Plants with Toxic Properties within its range have names by M. A. Cohen for the species in their own languages (Pritchard and 6 New York State DEC Eliminating Com- Trebbau, 1984). Female yellow-footed tortoise enjoying a flower in her enclosure. mercial Harvest of Diamondback The species name dentic- Photo © 2017 by Kirk Weber, reprinted with permission. Terrapin —Closing Hunting Season Aids ulata derives from the Latin Conservation of Diamondback Terrapin root words denti-, meaning Turtle Species —NYSDEC press release are large, and a somewhat hooked up- toothed, and latus, meaning the side. per jaw (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984). s Three Species Gain Endangered Spe- The root words combine to describe The forelimbs of the species show cies Act Protection—CBD press release the serrated outer edges of the mar- prominent yellow to orange scales, ginal scutes of yellow-footed tortoise while the elephantine hind limbs are 7 Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, hatchlings. typically brown to brownish-black. PhD Exhibiting some sexual dimor- s Meetings and Programs Identification phism, the male yellow-footed tortoise Not as extensively studied as the s Classified Advertisements yellow-foot tends to be larger than the red-footed tortoise, the yellow-footed female, with a more elongated cara- 8 Tortoise Box: Plans and Instructions tortoise is likely more difficult to lo- pace, a concave plastron, and a longer, by Mark Ratkovic cate and observe, living as it does in thicker tail. As a rule, this generality is overgrown rainforests that are often accepted by biologists, however, the 12 Ban Sought on Wild Turtle Trapping in impenetrable. largest recorded individuals in the spe- Arkansas — CBD press release The species’ common name de- cies are ordinarily female. scribes the distinctive yellow- or 14 Readers’ Favorite Photographs While also having an elongated orange-colored scales present on the carapace, the female yellow-foot is s Get your friendly tortoise today! front surfaces of its forelegs. The yel- usually smaller overall than the male, by Michelle Hoover low-footed tortoise is the fifth largest with a domed carapace and a flat- tortoise worldwide, the third largest tened plastron that is adapted for egg mainland tortoise, and the largest development. Biologists surmise that California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society Dedicated to Turtle & Tor- tortoise species in mainland South the longer, narrower carapace of the toise Preservation, Conservation and Education Since 1964. Promoting America. Averaging 16 to 20 inches (40 and Facilitating the Care, Rescue and Adoption of Native and Nonnative male enables him to move more easily Turtles and Tortoises. to 50 centimeters) in carapace length through the dense rainforest under- (King, 2011), massive individuals great- story (ARKive, n.d.). The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is owned by the California Turtle er than 32 inches (82 centimeters) in Considerable variation exists in the & Tortoise Club Executive Board, which is incorporated in the State of carapace length are not unusual, espe- size of mature yellow-footed tortoises, California as a Not-for-Profit Corporation and is tax-exempt under IRS cially in the wild (Turtles of the World, with the smallest adults being about code 501(c)(3). n.d.). one-half the size and only a fraction All material is copyright © CTTC unless otherwise attributed. CTTC Scutes that are brown to policy permits reproduction of articles by other not-for-profit groups of the weight of the largest adults and educational institutions when permission is requested. Permission brownish-black with yellow- or or- (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984). Sub- is granted on a case-by-case basis and CTTC must be cited as the source ange-colored centers comprise the species of C. denticulata have yet to be of the material. elongated carapace. The species’ plas- identified. Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are those of the contributors tron, yellowish-brown in coloration, and not necessarily those of the Editor or the California Turtle & Tor- has darker markings at the seams of Range and Habitat toise Club. the scutes (ARKive, n.d.). With an extensive range that Comparatively small, the head of spans many northwestern states Is your email address changing? C. denticulata displays scales colored on the continent of South America, Update your email address through your yellow to orange on a brown or brown- the yellow-footed tortoise inhabits MailChimp account, or send changes and cor- ish-black background, with a shape southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, Su- rections to [email protected] that is longer than it is wide, eyes that riname, French Guiana, the Amazon Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 6 3 River basin in Brazil, southern Colom- Reproduction Conservation bia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and No specific mating season for C. den- The Convention on International northern Bolivia. The species also oc- ticulata has been documented, and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) curs in the twin-island Republic of biologists speculate that mating occurs at lists the yellow-footed tortoise as Ap- Trinidad and Tobago, located off the any time of year, although there is some pendix II, meaning that all international northern coast of South America. evidence that mating peaks during the trade in the species should be diligently Favoring both deciduous and ever- rainy season. monitored. green tropical rainforest ecosystems, Given the year-round mating of the The Red List of the International C. denticulata thrives in high-humidity species, nesting is also likely to occur Union for the Conservation of Na- environments, and typically inhabits throughout the year. C. denticulata lays ture lists the yellow-footed tortoise as locations adjacent to bodies of water. one to several clutches of eggs, num- “vulnerable to extinction” with the an- With low light levels found in the shade bering one to 20 eggs per clutch, each notation that the assessment “needs of the rainforest canopy, these ecosys- season. The average number of eggs per updating” (The IUCN Red List of Threat- tems feature a temperature range is clutch is four to eight, and the eggs usu- ened Species, 1996). Ω relatively narrow, varying from 66 to 95° ally incubate for 120 to 150 days (ARKive, F (19 to 35° C) (King, 2011). n.d.). References ARKive. (n.d.). South American yellow-footed tortoise Species Activity Threats (Chelonoidis denticulata). [online] Available at: http:// Exhibiting different periods of activity, By far the greatest threat to adult www.arkive.org/south-american-yellow-footed- tortoise/chelonoidis-denticulata/ male and female yellow-footed tortoises C. denticulata is capture by humans for are both diurnal, meaning they are both food. In some portions of its range, both King, A. (2011). Chelonoidis denticulata (Yellow-footed active during the day. Females and juve- the meat and various organs of the spe- Tortoise or Morocoy). [online] The Online Guide to the niles are active all year around, mainly Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. Available at: https:// cies are considered to be delicacies and sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/documents/Chelonoi- occupied with the search for food. In are sold in food markets. Forest-dwelling dis_denticulata.pdf. contrast, males are generally more active peoples will capture yellow-footed tor- during the wetter months, when they are Pritchard, P. and Trebbau, P. (1984). The Turtles of Ven- toises for food or for sale when hunting ezuela. 1st ed. Athens, Ohio: Society for the Study of occupied with searching for mates as well other game. Amphibians and Reptiles, pp.221-232. as for food (King, 2011). This increase in A secondary threat to the species is The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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