Elongated Tortoise

28 Oct 2024 13:10:52 pm

Tags : Elongated Tortoise

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

An elongated tortoise was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area for the first time, during a research survey in the Aravallis.
The reptile, known for its yellowish-brown to olive shell adorned with black blotches, was not documented to be present in the region under Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study conducted in 2016.
The species is widely distributed across northeast India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia.

Source: The Times of India

About Elongated Tortoise:

It is also known as Sal Forest Tortoise.
It is medium-sized with a yellowish brown or olive shell and distinct black blotches at the centre of each scute.
Its mature individuals of both sexes develop a distinct pinkish colouration surrounding the nostrils and eyes during the breeding season.
It is found in the sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests.
It is distributed across southeast Asia from northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh in the west, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and all of Indochina, north to China and south to Peninsular Malaysia.
A disjunct tortoise population exists in the Chota Nagpur plateau in eastern India.
It also inhabits lowlands and foothills of up to 1,000 m above sea level.
It is found in the foothills of the Himalayas. It generally inhabits wetter areas
It is not native to the Aravallis.
It is listed as critically endangered species under the IUCN red list of threatened species.
It is heavily exploited for food and traditional medicine throughout its range.