It's Tortoise Time

Tortoise Photos, Stories and Tales of Speedy Escapology

[mindblowingfactz]

This is a golden tortoise beetle. And yes it actually exists. -Source

[reptilefacts]

How Tortoises Respond To Touch

It is widely known that dogs and cats respond well to human touch, but what about other animals? This was the question that inspired the Smithsonian to investigate whether or not tortoises enjoyed being touched by humans.

One of the most common misconceptions about tortoises is that they can’t feel their shells. Since they provide protection, people assume tortoises are disconnected from their shells, instead of them being an extension of their bodies. With this myth cleared up, Reptile Biologist Matt Evans walks us through the different tactile sensations that tortoises enjoy. As it turns out, they love having their necks rubbed just like our dogs.

[Article source]

[babygoatsandfriends]

[coolthingoftheday]

Johnathan the tortoise in 1900, and the same tortoise again in 2015.

[itsmynp]

[itsmynp]

Nom, nom, nom.

(via These Tortoises Eating Tiny Pancakes Are All Of Us At Brunch - Video Dailymotion)

[wafflesworld]

Mom’s final project for her biology class was to choose a plant and tell all about it. Of course I told her we should choose my most favourite plant, the dandelion! We worked real hard and this is what we made. Enjoy!

[odeatenebris]

My mama tortoise recognizing her babies

[thewhimsyturtle]

My light turns on early every morning, so I usually get up before Mommy does. That means I wake up to an empty plate. When I am really impatient for my breakfast, I camp out on my food plate and doze off. Then, when Mommy finally wakes up, I wake up and find myself surrounded by noms!

[itsmynp]

Drastic action to save endangered tortoise - BBC News

In a desperate bid to save one of the world's most endangered animals, conservationists are taking the controversial step of defacing the last survivors.

[itsmynp]

The baby tortoises are imminent!

I spoke to Gary of West Berks Tortoises again this weekend.  He was telling me that the tortoises have already laid this year’s eggs. 

Fascinatingly, the temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines to a large extent the sex of the resulting baby tortoise.  So to try and make as many females as possible Gary has dug up the eggs and is incubating them at 32 degrees C. If he was trying to produce males, he would have set his incubator to a lower temperature.

Similar to germinating seeds, the temperature at which they are kept also determines how long they incubate for before hatching out.  Higher temperatures mean shorter time to hatch.

In the photo which Gary sent me, you can see the eggs labelled up with the laying date.

The babies are expected to hatch in July and I’m looking forward to more photos then.

[itsmynp]

These are tortoise eggs.  They’ll incubate for about 55 days before they hatch into baby tortoises.. More photos to follow!

[tortoise-adventures]

“You can’t trample infidels when you’re a tortoise. I mean, all you could do is give them a meaningful look.” ~ Terry Pratchett 

[tortoise-adventures]

“You can’t trample infidels when you’re a tortoise. I mean, all you could do is give them a meaningful look.” ~ Terry Pratchett 

[keith76hill]

Tortoise, 90, fitted with wheels following rat attack - BBC News

A Pembrokeshire tortoise that had part of its legs chewed off by a rat is fitted with wheels.

She moves a bit faster now, but has had to learn to stop!

[itsmynp]

They think this is unusual, but our tortoise Emmeline has been doing this for decades :-)

[itsmynp]

A woman speaks of her "absolute delight" at being reunited with her 109-year-old pet tortoise, 11 months after he disappears.

Delight over runaway 109-year-old Dover tortoise's return