Red-footed Tortoise, Geochelone carbonaria



The Red-footed Tortoise is a native tortoise species to South America, but it has become surprisingly popular in other areas of the world as pets. In Brazil it is known as Jabuti and in Venezuela as Morrocoy. What sets the Red-footed tortoise apart is the scales upon the legs and feet, as well as orange scales sometimes on it's neck and head. The adult Red-foot ranges in size from 10-15 inches carapace (or shell) length; the females being significantly smaller in size and wieght (adult males wieghing in at 20 lbs.).

Natural Locations
The countries where these remarkable creatures may be found in include Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. This Tortoise enjoys hot, humid climates with dense forest vegetation and light rains often. Man is the Red-footed Tortoises greatest enemy due to hunting for food. During Catholic fasting, oddly enough, Tortois is considered "fish" and is consumed in great numbers.

Reproduction
The Tortoise genrally lays a clutch of 8 to 14 eggs and are buried in a nest for 105 to 202 days. After hatch, offspring will apear from nest hungry and about 1.5 inches in size. Most Tortoises reproduce in the months of July, August, and September leaving their brood to hatch during the long wet months of the year. Males will usually "battle" for a young female and the winner then mates with the female after a ritualistic "dance" done with each other. This "dance" includes the male using hard, jerking motions which captivate the female, then proceeding to walk away appearing uninterested to the waning femle.