Madagascar Radiated Tortoise

For more pictures, click Radiated Tortoise Pictures
 

• Geochelone radiata 
• Synonyms:Testudo radiata, Asterochelys radiata

• Also known as Radiator
•  CITES listing: Class I (01/07/1975)
  
•  Radiated Tortoise has the following characteristics:

    1.  Radiated and hig-domed carapace
         - lines radiating from the center of the dark shell plate

    2.  A blunt head
    3.  Elephantine feet

• Almost as same as Star Tortoise but larger size and different shell pattern design
  

• Point of origin is exotic island of Madagascar
• Can be located at most southern and southwestern part of Madagascar, Mauritius & Reunion

• When male tortoise reaches 31 cm, and female tortoise reaches few cm longer
• Normally male will fight during breeding season to get its partner

• 3 to 12 spherical brittle-shelled eggs per nest
• Incubation is from 5 to 8 months
• Juveniles are between 3 to 4 cm upon hatching

• Up to 16 inches (42 cm)
• Up to 35 pounds (16 kgs)

• Up to 50 years

• Herbivore
• Fruits, succulent plants, flowers, and grasses
• Favorite food is Opuntia cactus
• Mixture of kale, chicory, and collard greens is also acceptable

• These tortoises are found naturally in the most southern and southwestern part of Madagascar
• Distributed nearby of island of Reunion