December 2007

Indian Star Tortoise - Geochelone elegans

This tortoise is native to Pakistan, the entire Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka. This species measures up to 28 cm long. This specimen died in captivity.

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Carapace

Plastron

印度星龟

拉丁学名：Geochelone elegans
英文名：Indian star tortoise
中文名：印度星斑陆龟，印度星龟，分布在印度、巴基斯坦、斯里兰卡等地。
形态特征：在背甲各盾板中出现放射状星形花纹。一枚盾板中有8条以上的线，但在幼体中数目就较少，在腹甲部分也有同样的花纹。
















在野外，印度星龟多在晨昏时活动，由于分布于广大的印度及巴基斯坦，分布的地形从荒漠、草原到落叶林，因此环境上的差异会造成不同的生态。觅食上由于比较困难，所以它们会尽一切可能的吃光眼前的食物。因为食物来源相当不稳定，野生的印度星龟相当能耐饿，且比人为饲养的印度星龟活跃，因为它们必须不断的寻找食物，根据相关数据，多数的印度星龟不会固定的停留在一个栖地，它们会因找寻食物而四处奔波，且接近正午时比较不容易发现它们，因为印度星龟会找地方休息，直到快傍晚才继续活动。

这种陆龟分布在半干旱，布满荆棘的草原中，在一些高降雨量的地区也能发现它们的踪迹。给予他们在草原地区生活的习性，让它们在混有各种植物的地方放养。它们喜欢吃水果类、多刺仙人掌、茎叶肥厚的植物和蓟。而家养的印度星龟如果喂过多的多汁植物则会造成恶劣影响，例如莴苣、生菜、番茄、和多汁性水果，实际上，这种陆龟需要粗质的高纤维食物。过度的多汁水果和软性食物容易患肠胃疾病，如加速肠胃蠕动导致腹泻。

印度星龟喜欢栖息在平坦的草地上，如果能给它们提供这样的环境，可以防止这类情况发生。肉类绝不能给印度星龟食用，同样蛋白质含量过高的蔬菜，如豆类也应排除在印度星龟的食谱之外。如果它们一直摄入此类食物，在过度生长的同时会导致骨骼发育不良，尿液带血，膀胱结石以及肝脏问题。印度星龟需要大量补充钙质和矿物质微量元素。尤其是对印度星龟幼体和孵化期的雌性印度星龟采取一些辅助措施至关重要。该种陆龟适合在放养在热带地区覆盖植被的户外花园，接受阳光的照射，但注意不要温度过高，遮阴物的布置同样重要。如果饲养在室内，必须在食物中填加维生素D3。如不能经常提供日光照射，则要选择性地使用大功率的UV-B全光谱灯管，定期更换。印度星龟喜欢在浅水地区饮水和泡澡，所以还要定期清理给它们使用的饮水碟。不要把它们和其它龟类混养在一起，因为印度星龟容易从其它龟类传染上疾病，即使是健康的印度星龟个体。

饲养关键：

• 产自印度内陆
• 不能冬眠
• 100%的素食菜谱
• 栖息地是干燥的草原
• 不能忍受湿冷
• 需要宽阔的室内和室外饲所
• 需要定期泡温水澡。
• 需要经常晒甲或UVB紫外线照射。

Behavior

The Indian Star Tortoise is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful tortoises in the world. If you have had experience with owning a tortoise before then perhaps you should consider the Indian Star Tortoise. It is one of the higher maintenance tortoises, but it is also one of the most beautiful. People who have owned a tortoise can tell you how much fun they are to own and with a particularly attractive one like the Star Tortoise it is not hard to find those eager to try and raise one. One thing to keep in mind though is that, if you are looking into the possible ownership of a Star Tortoise you are also looking into accepting a huge responsibility. In the wild the Star Tortoise is typically found in high grassy jungles and lowland dry forests.

Health

The Star Tortoise should be housed outdoors where weather permits. A shallow dish put into the ground with a shallow amount of water should also be kept in the pen so that the tortoise can occasionally soak itself and drink. Star Tortoises should have a daytime temperature gradient from 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the warmest area to about 80 degrees at the cooler area. At night the temperature should be in the low to mid 70s. They should have hide boxes in both the warm and cooler areas. Indian Star Tortoises should be fed a diet of grasses and dark leafy green vegetables. A phosphorous free calcium supplement on their food daily and use a reptile multivitamins weekly is recommended to keep your tortoise in good health. Breeding The Star Tortoises bredding season is from June to October. The female will find a site and dig a nest to lay her eggs in. She may lay 8 or 9 clutches a year, and each clutch generally contains 5 to 7 eggs. If incubated at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the eggs will usually hatch between 100 and 110 days.

November 2007

Introduction

The Star tortoise belongs to a group of tortoises that bear a distinguishing radiating pattern on their carapaces. Variations of this pattern are quite common among African and to some extent Asian tortoises, and are - despite the eye-catching appearance in unnatural surroundings - a very efficient means of camouflage. Among the 'starred' group of tortoises are the Radiated, Spider and Flat-shelled tortoises of Madagascar and the Geometric and Tent tortoises of southernmost Africa. All the starred beauties have since the early days of herpetoculture been much sought after among tortoise enthusiasts and commercial trade, legal as well as illegal has together with the ever-present habitat destruction led to all these species becoming locally or regionally threatened. The starred species that traditionally has been the most common in captivity is the Star tortoise, much due to an historical extensive trade in wild caught specimens mainly from Sri Lanka.

Alternative Name
Indian Star Tortoise Scientific Name: Geochelone elegans

Habitat
The star pattern on their shells blends in and camouflages thems in the high grass.

Origin
India

History
The Star Tortoise is a native of Ceylon as well as central and southern India.

• From Indian subcontinent


• Does not hibernate


• 100% herbivorous diet


• From dry grassland habitats


• Does not tolerate damp or cold, but does enjoy warm rainfall periodically


• Requires extensive outdoor and indoor accommodation


• Regular soaking or constant access to water recommended

October 2007

September 2007