A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Chelonoidis carbonaria
A medium sized tortoise averaging 30cm (12") but recorded up to 40cm. Males tend to be slightly bigger and more coloured than females. Dark upper shell with pale centers to the shell scales and bright red/orange scales on the limbs and head. There are 5 variants within the species based on region within their range. All show slight variations in colour and size.
Found in northern South America. These two were seen in western Brazil in the Pantanal area. They seem to prefer Savannah and forest edge habitats. Due to pressures from both habitat destruction and an insatiable pet trade, this species is now classed as vulnerable and becomming much harder to find in the wild.
Images show an older female with a more worn shell and a brightly coloured male with striking head markings.
Spotted on Oct 25, 2015
Submitted on Feb 19, 2016
2 Comments
Hi Alexis, thanks for yr interest. This species is classed as vulnerable (VU) in the wild. That means that it's population out there is of some concern as it isn't as common as it once was. At this stage there are still plenty of them but due to environmental and human interference concerns, populations will be monitored to try and stop there numbers dropping further. The next downward classification would be near threatened (NT) and we don't want that! Robert.
Very cute :)
Is that type of tortoise endangered?