# Elongated tortoise (*Indotestudo elongata*) The elongated tortoise is a gentle reptile with a long, smooth shell. They love to hide in leaves and eat yummy plants. These tortoises are slow but very wise! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Elongated tortoise](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2024-03-29-Indotestudo_elongata-167A3539.jpg&width=800) Photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024-03-29-Indotestudo_elongata-167A3539.jpg) ## Appearance The Elongated tortoise has a distinctive elongated, somewhat flattened carapace, usually yellowish-brown with dark blotches on each scute. Its head and limbs are typically bright yellow or yellow-green, often with a pinkish nose, making it visually striking. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Testudinidae - **Genus:** Indotestudo ## Interesting facts - Baby tortoises are born round, gradually getting their elongated shape as they grow! - Their bright yellow head might warn predators that they are not a tasty meal! - They love to munch on mushrooms, a rare treat for many other tortoises! - When threatened, they can hiss surprisingly loudly to startle attackers away. ## Special abilities - **Sun-Shade Seeker:** Elongated tortoises can precisely choose sunny or shady spots to control their body temperature and stay comfortable. - **Burrow Builder:** Elongated tortoises have powerful, sturdy limbs that help them dig shallow shelters or nest sites in the forest floor. - **Tough Tummy:** Elongated tortoises have a special digestive system that can break down tough jungle plants, extracting all the nutrients. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 26-31 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-4 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 0.8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-5 - **Incubation:** 100-160 days ## Diet & Feeding This tortoise enjoys a plant-based diet, munching on leaves, fruits, and even fungi found in its forest home. - **Primary Foods:** Forest Leaves, Wild Fruits, Mushrooms, Orchid Flowers, Grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Spectacled Cobra (*Naja naja*) — Known to prey on tortoise eggs and young hatchlings. - **Eats:** Sacred Fig (*Ficus religiosa*) — Forages on fallen fruits and leaves from various forest trees. - **Eats:** Termite Mushroom (*Termitomyces microcarpus*) — Actively seeks out and consumes diverse types of forest fungi. - **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Hunted for traditional medicine, food, and the illegal pet trade. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a tortoise, watch it from a distance and don't touch it. They need their space! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Elongated tortoise? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Elongated tortoise? 26-31 cm ### How much does Elongated tortoise weigh? 1.5-4 kg ### How long does Elongated tortoise live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Elongated tortoise move? 0.8 km/h ### What does Elongated tortoise eat? This tortoise enjoys a plant-based diet, munching on leaves, fruits, and even fungi found in its forest home. ### Where is Elongated tortoise usually found? Forests ### How does Elongated tortoise hunt? Foraging ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Elongated tortoise: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elongated-tortoise)