Red-Footed Tortoise

Geochelone carbonaria

The red-footed tortoise is a medium-sized tortoise from South American and is very hardy, beautiful, and displays a variety of interesting behaviors.  These animals are not classified as threatened with extinction but are considered sensitive to this danger if international trade is left unregulated.

This animal is found throughout extreme southern Central America and central and northern South America including the countries of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.  They are also found on several Caribbean islands.  Their biggest threat to their survival is overhunting by man.  They are hunted extensively in their country of origin for food.  And, are threatened by the omnipresent habitat loss and disturbance.

The red-footed tortoise are a medium sized species with males being larger than females in carapace length and weight.  As they mature, when viewed from the top, they have a decidedly hourglass appearance which is more developed in males than females.  Mature males also have longer and wider tails than females.

Juveniles have a carapace with a pale yellow or horn ground color with increasing dark brown or black patches as the animal matures.  Adults have a carapace with a dark brown or blackish brown ground color with pale yellow aureole in the center of each lateral and center scute.

They are commonly found in relatively dry grassland and forest areas and occasionally in humid forest habitat.  Clutches of eggs vary from 5 to 15 eggs and red-footed tortoise are slow to mature.  Eggs are laid in a nest that the female has dug.    Incubation varies from 105 to 202 days.  They are, primarily, herbivorous, consuming a wide variety of grasses, fruits, flowers and small plants.  And, have been reported, in the wild, to consume small amounts of animal material such as carrion.  They are not, presently, classified as endangered, but if the hunting rate and habitat loss continue at their current levels, it will most likely be so in the future.