Description:
- Smallest species in geochelone
- Famous with its star radiating pattern
- One of the lovely tortoise kept by pet lovers, 30 years ago, it used to be one of the most popular pet tortoises in captive. But it is pretty rare now because it is eaten by local people and susceptible to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
Distribution:
- India (Central and southern India), Sri Lanka and west into Pakistan
Breeding:
- 2 to 6 eggs per clutch
- 2 to 3 clutches per year
- Incubation period is around 50 to 150 days
Nesting:
- During rainy season
Size:
- Male tortoise = about 20cm
- Female tortoise = about 30cm
Life Span:
- 30 to 35 years
Diet:
- Vegetarian & Herbivorous (plant-eating); grass, succulents, vegetables, fruits and occationally meat,
- Primary foods: Grass, Dark Leafy Greens (e.g. dandelions, mustards, collards, turnips, kales)
- Occasional foods: Pears, Carrots, Apples (with skin), Peaches, Berries, Beans (with skin), Peas (with skin)
- Never try to feed them: Very Juicy Fruits, Tomatos, Bananas, Cabbages, Cucumbers, Bok Choy, Broccoli, etc
Habitat:
- Terrestrial; forests, dry savannahs, and dry grassland