fortheloveofherpetology:

Red-Footed Tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria)

• Red-footed tortoises live in southern Central America and throughout much of South America
• Red-footed tortoises live in dry forest areas, grasslands and the savanna. They may also live in areas of rain forest that are close to open habitats
• Individuals have varying degrees of coloration, which varies according to locality of origin. Overall, the skin is mostly black. Small, distinct areas of yellow or tan coloring surround or cover each carapace bump
• As with other species of tortoise, male red-footed tortoises have a concave plastron (bottom of shell)
• Males are usually larger than females and grow up to 13.5 inches in length; females average 11.25 inches in length
• Red-footed tortoises have a life expectancy of about 50 years
• red-footed tortoises are primarily herbivorous but also eat small amounts of animal matter, such as carrion. They also eat fungi, live and dead plants or fruits, flowers, soil, sand, and slow moving animals such as snails, worms and insects that they can capture
• Breeding occurs with the beginning of the rainy season. Males identify each other through a characteristic head movement that is a series of jerks away from and back to a middle position. If another tortoise is a male, he will make the same head movements. Males will battle each other, attempting to turn over one another
• Scientific experiments and observation have shown that for mating to continue, both male and female must have “correct” coloration on the respective mate’s head. Then, the male sniffs the cloacal region of the female. Copulation usually follows the sniffing, but the male repeatedly circles the female and bites the legs of the female before mating
• During courtship and copulation, the male clucks in a set pattern of different pitches that sound very much like a chicken

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(via reptiglo)