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Elongated Tortoise
Indotestudo elongata
This medium-sized Asian land tortoise is wonderfully adapted to humid forest environments, characterized by its remarkably elongated shell, crepuscular habits, and preference for dense cover.
Class:Testudines
Order:Testudines
Family:Testudinidae
Genus:Indotestudo
Species:Indotestudo elongata
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
24 - 29 °C
Ambient temperature
24 - 29 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Basking spot
30 - 32 °C
Adult size
30 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 600 L
UVB
Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indotestudo elongata is native to Southeast Asia, with a geographical range spanning Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, northern Malaysia, and southern China. It primarily inhabits dry and humid deciduous forests, hilly woodlands, and wooded savannas, preferring shaded habitats with thick leaf litter and high relative humidity.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Testudinidae and the genus Indotestudo, its genetic makeup reflects adaptations to forest environments with seasonal temperature variations. It features a characteristically elongated and narrow carapace, which is yellow-greenish to pale brown, with large black patches on each scute. Adults reach a carapace length of about 30 centimeters and weigh 3-4 kg.
Behavior and Habits: A primarily crepuscular and terrestrial species. It is active during the early morning and dusk hours, while spending the hottest parts of the day hidden under leaf litter, fallen logs, or dense vegetation. Their activity levels increase significantly during the monsoon season. They have a shy but curious temperament once acclimated.
Morphology: Beyond the elongated carapace, it features a pale yellow or cream head that turns pinkish-red around the eyes and nostrils during the breeding season in both sexes. The limbs are robust and covered in thick scales, adapted for walking through dense undergrowth. Males have a concave plastron and a longer, thicker tail than females.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a spacious indoor enclosure or a large outdoor pen (during warm months) of at least 2.5 x 1.5 meters for a single adult. The ideal substrate is a moisture-retaining mix of peat moss, coconut coir, and cypress mulch, topped with dry leaves. Provide multiple hiding shelters (bark caves, robust plants) and a shallow, wide water dish to allow the tortoise to soak and hydrate.
Lighting and Heating: Requires high-quality UVB lighting (5.0 or 10.0 UVB bulb) active for 10-12 hours daily to promote vitamin D3 synthesis. Provide a thermal gradient with a cool side of 24°C and a basking spot of 30-32°C. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 20-22°C. Heating should be supplied via overhead heating lamps connected to a reliable thermostat.
Humidity and Hydration: As a forest-dwelling species, they require a constant relative humidity level between 60% and 80%. This is achieved by regularly misting the substrate and keeping the water dish filled. Hydration is critical; in addition to the water bowl, weekly lukewarm water soaks are highly recommended to aid digestion and prevent dehydration.
Feeding and Supplementation: Omnivorous with a strong herbivorous preference. The diet should consist of 80% leafy greens (dandelion, chicory, endive, clover), flowers, and weeds, 15% fruits (figs, berries, apple), and 5% protein (earthworms, snails). Supplement food with calcium powder 2-3 times weekly, and calcium with D3 once a week.
Compatibility: A solitary species. Keeping multiple specimens together requires very large enclosures with visual barriers to prevent stress from persistent male courtship or territorial fighting between males. Never house them with other tortoise species to prevent the transmission of exotic pathogens.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to respiratory infections (pneumonia) if kept in cool, damp conditions without proper heating, and metabolic bone disease (MBD) from lack of UVB or calcium. Intestinal parasites and dehydration in juveniles are also common. Annual veterinary check-ups including fecal tests are recommended.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Indotestudo elongata is native to Southeast Asia, with a geographical range spanning Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, northern Malaysia, and southern China. It primarily inhabits dry and humid deciduous forests, hilly woodlands, and wooded savannas, preferring shaded habitats with thick leaf litter and high relative humidity.
Origin
South and Southeast AsiaEast Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 30 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 30 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 30 cm for this species, recorded as straight carapace length (SCL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
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