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Reptiles

South American Tortoises

Scientific Name

Chelonoidis spp.

Body Weight

The largest South American tortoises are the Galápagos giant tortoises, which are also the world's largest tortoises, weighing up to 260 kg.

Body Length

The Galápagos giant tortoises can grow up to 1.8 m long.

Habitat

Rainforest, shrublands, grasslands and sandy coasts

Diet

Mostly plants and fungi, but will occasionally eat small insects and carrion

Fun Facts

These tortoises disperse seeds like gardeners of the forest. For example, yellow-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus) and red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonarius) eat many types of fruits, and the seeds can remain in their gut for days without being damaged. By the time the seeds are excreted in faeces, the tortoises may have moved to open areas to bask under the sun. This helps support forest regeneration and maintain plant genetic diversity.
Though these tortoises live on land, they also enjoy their time in water. Some species wade in water during the rainy season, while some wallow in puddles and mud to help regular their body temperature.

Distribution

South America, including countries such as Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina

Threats & Conservation

Threats

Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Invasive Species & Diseases
Climate Change

South American tortoises have been hunted for food and overexploited, and some are illegally captured for the pet trade. Their habitats have been lost to agriculture, while roads and fences block their movement. Domestic animals introduced by human compete with the tortoises for food and prey on their eggs and young. As a result, some species of South American tortoises have declined sharply, and at least one is now extinct.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

6 species are Critically Endangered, 3 are Endangered and 5 are Vulnerable.

CITES

1 species is listed in Appendix I, and the rest are listed in Appendix II

Conservation Regulations

Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.

Ocean Park's Conservation Efforts

Ocean Park cares for yellow-footed tortoises, a vulnerable species, as well as red-footed tortoises, providing a suitable environment for them to breed naturally.

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Threats & Conservation

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