Yellow-footed Tortoise

Description:

Yellow-footed tortoises are the fifth largest tortoise overall after the Aldabra giant tortoise, Galapagos giant tortoise, African spurred tortoise, and Asian forest tortoise. While they can reach 35 in. in length this was a medium-sized 20 in. long. The shell was a long rounded dome. The scutes are a dull yellow to brown color with a black border around each. The bottom row of scutes flares out slightly over the legs and neck. The base color of the body parts that show outside the shell (head, neck, legs, tail) are dark gray to black with varying sized yellow spots. The scales on the front of its front legs are yellow, giving it its common name.

Habitat:

Found crossing a large yard on the outskirts of a small town on the edge of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle (1060 masl).

Notes:

We were fortunate to see this big guy making his way across the compound where we were “incarcerated” for 4 weeks waiting for a negative Covid test so we could leave Ecuador. Fortunately the Indians that were also watching it had plenty of food as these are excellent eating. We saw him safely across the yard and into the brush that lined a small stream nearby.