Elongated Tortoise

Looks how to spot one

shell

This tortoise has a notably long, domed shell that reaches its highest point on the third vertebral scute. The carapace is yellowish-brown to olive, often marked with darker blotches on each scute. The plastron and bridge are plain yellow. The skin of the head and limbs is pale cream to yellowish-green; in breeding males the area around the eyes and nose becomes bright pinkish-red. Males have a concave plastron and a longer, thicker tail, while females have a flat plastron and a shorter tail.31

Personality what they are like

Elongated tortoises are generally shy and secretive, but they have a calm nature. They can become stressed if handled too often or too roughly. With patience and consistent gentle interaction, they grow more confident and may approach their keeper, especially if food is offered.45

Daily activity how busy a day looks

These tortoises are most active at dawn and dusk. They are not avid baskers but do benefit from a thermal gradient. In indoor enclosures, provide lighting that supplies both heat and UVB. When night temperatures stay above 15°C, they can be housed in outdoor pens with secure fencing.36

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide a humidity-retaining substrate such as mulch, soil, leaf litter or sphagnum moss. A large, shallow water pool should be available for soaking and drinking. Clean the enclosure regularly. Cuttlefish bones can be offered for extra calcium. Males should be kept separately to avoid fighting; females can live in groups.3

Home where they are happiest

Adults need an enclosure with a floor area of at least 2.7 m by 1.35 m. Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual barriers to reduce stress. The enclosure should maintain humidity and include a large, shallow water dish. They are a tropical species and do not hibernate; keep temperatures warm year-round.36

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivorous. In captivity they accept a wide variety: fresh greens (dandelion, kale, collards, alfalfa), vegetables (bamboo shoots, mushrooms, pumpkin, cucumber, carrot), fruits (papaya, mango, banana, strawberry), and some animal matter such as earthworms, snails, and shrimp. Commercial tortoise pellets can also be offered. Provide a diverse, nutritionally balanced diet and supplement with vitamins and minerals as needed.3

Company who they like around

These tortoises are mostly solitary in the wild. In captivity, males can be aggressive toward each other, so they are best housed separately. Females can be kept together in groups. During the breeding season, watch for injuries from overly persistent males. They are not a particularly social species, but they can become comfortable with their keeper's presence.3

The story where it all began

The elongated tortoise has been kept in captivity for decades by private breeders, zoos, and wildlife rescue centres. It is considered hardy and has been bred successfully many times. Despite its long history in captivity, no organised European studbook or AZA Species Survival Plan is currently in place, though a European Studbook Foundation studbook lists several hundred specimens. Assurance colonies exist in multiple countries, and captive breeding is seen as important for conservation, as the species faces threats from habitat loss and illegal collection in its native range.3

Recognised by the official bits

Turtles of the World

The carapace is elongated (up to 36 cm), domed, yellowish-brown or olive with black blotches on each scute, and has a nuchal scute. The head is pale cream to yellowish-green without dark spots; during breeding the skin around the eyes and nostrils turns bright pinkish-red.1