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Geochelone (Chelonoidis) carbonaria

"Cherryhead" Red-footed Tortoise

DISTRIBUTION: These tortoises were brought in from eastern Brazil.

EMPIRE STOCK: CB imported from Brazil.

SIZE: This is a subject of debate. These tortoises came in with well developed secondary sex characteristics and lots of growth rings at a small size. This has lead many to believe that they are dwarves. Many of these imported animals do not seem to grow after importation, or grow slowly. Possibly they are stunted or slow growers. Sources I trust claim that these tortoises, or their offspring, will eventually reach the size of the northern Redfoots from Suriname and Guyana. Time will tell.

HABITAT: Tropical forest and moist savannahs.

DIET: I feed Mazuri Tortoise, romaine, hibiscus, spineless opuntia, cantaloupe, and mangos. Edible Plants

SEXING: Males have concave plastrons and a longer thicker tail with vent beyond the carapace rim.

BREEDING:

NOTES: A "Cherryhead" is not any Redfoot with a lot of red on the head. These are not currently classified as a subspecies. They can be identified by their origin (Bahia Brazil), and their plastral pattern. They generally have a larger degree of red coloration on the head than Guyana and Suriname animals and they usually have some mottling of the carapace.

CARE SHEETS: ATP, CTTC, TT, WCT

 

 

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Small group of Cherryheads. Slight marbling is visible between costals and marginals.

 

 

Check out our Guyana Suriname Redfoots

 

Suggested Reading

Moskovits, D. K. 1985. the behavior and ecology of the two Amazonian tortoises, Geochelone carbonaria and Geochelone denticulata, in northwestern Brazil. PhD thesis, University of Chicago.

Moskovits, D. K., and A. R. Kiester. 1987. Activity levels and ranging behavior of the two Amazonian tortoises, Geochelone carbonaria and Geochelone denticulata, in north-western Brazil. Functional Ecology 1:203-214.

Strong, J. N., and J. M. V. Fragoso. 2006. Seed Dispersal by Geochelone carbonaria and Geochelone denticulata in Northwestern Brazil. Biotropica 38(5): 683-686.

Vinke, Sabine, H. Vetter, T. Vinke, and S. Vetter. 2008. Chelonian Library Volume 3: South American Tortoises Chelonoidis carbonaria, C. denticulata and C. chilensis. Edition Chimaira. 360pp. ISBN 978-389973-603-8.