Geochelone radiata

(radiated tortoise)

Geographic Range

Geochelone radiata only occur naturally in the extreme southern and southwestern part of the
island of Madagascar. G. radiata have also been introduced to the nearby island of Reunion
(LPZ 1999).

Habitat

G. radiata prefer dry regions of brush, thorn (Diderae) forests and woodlands of southern
Madagascar (LPZ 1999).

Physical Description

Growing to a carapace length of up to 16 inches and weighing up to 35 pounds, G. radiata is

considered to be one of the world's most beautiful tortoises. G. radiata has the basic "tortoise"
body shape which consists of the high-domed carapace, a blunt head, and elephantine feet.
The legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a variably sized black patch on top of the head.
The carapace of G. radiata is brilliantly marked with yellow lines radiating from the center of
each dark plate of the shell, hence the name radiated tortoise. This "star" pattern is more
finely detailed and intricate than the normal pattern of other star-patterned tortoise species,
such as G. elegans of India. G. radiata is also larger than G. elegans, and the scutes of the
carapace are smooth, and not raised up into a bumpy, pyramidal shape as is commonly seen
in the latter species. There is slight sexual dimorphism. Compared to females, male G. radiata
usually have longer tails and the notch in the plastron beneath the tail is more noticeable
(Kirkpatrick 1992).

Reproduction

Males first mate upon attaining lengths of about 12 inches; females may need to be a few
inches longer. The male begins this fairly noisy procedure by bobbing his head and smelling
the female's hind legs and cloaca. In some cases the male may lift the female up with the
front edge of his shell to keep her from moving away. The male will then proceed to mount the
female from the rear while striking the anal region of his plastron against the females
carapace. Hissing and grunting by the male during mating is common. Females lay from 3 to
12 eggs in a pre-excavated hole 6 to 8 inches deep and then depart. Incubation is quite long
in this species, lasting usually between 145 and 231 days. Juveniles are between 32 to 40 mm
upon hatching. Unlike the yellow coloration of the adults, the juveniles are a white to an off-
white shade. Juveniles attain the high-domed carapace soon after hatching (Kirkpatrick 1992).

Food Habits
G. radiata is an herbivore. Grazing makes up approximently 80-90% of their diet. They feed
during the day primarily on grasses, fruit, and succulent plants. A favorite food in the wild is
the Opuntia cactus. In captivity G. radiata is known to eat sweet potatoes, carrots, apples,
bananas, alfalfa sprouts, and melons. According to some sources G. radiata seem to be partial
to red foods. They are known to graze regularly in the same area, thus keeping the vegetation
in that area closely trimmed. They seem to prefer new growth rather than mature growth
because of the high protein, low fiber content (Behler and Iaderosa 1991).

Management of Female Tortoises

Female radiated tortoises are housed together from mid-November until the end of April. Then
they are assigned breeding partners according to Species Survival Plan directives. On 1 May,
individual females are placed in an outdoor breeding pen with a previously stimulated male.
Females typically are very actively courted for 2-3 days post introduction. When courtship and
mounting behaviors have stopped, females are removed from breeding pens and placed in a
nearby yard with other females. One to two weeks later, they are reintroduced to their
assigned breeding partner.

Management of Male Tortoises

Like females, males are housed together during the cold weather, non-breeding season. In
late April assigned breeders are separated from the male herd and placed in one of the pens
with one or two beta males. The alpha animal will remain in the pen until mid-November.
Aggressive interaction between alpha and beta individuals typically takes place in the pens and
serves to stimulate the breeder. Just before introduction of the females on 1 May, beta males
are removed to the bachelor pen. When reproduction activity wanes, the females are removed
and beta males are reintroduced. The addition of beta individuals again provokes combat
activities. The importance of these aggressive interactions between male "rivals" to program
success can't be too strongly emphasized. On the other hand, breeding groups maintained
together in a single enclosure during the breeding season may not reproduce well because
males are preoccupied with agonistic behaviors and miss out on breeding opportunities.

Egg Production and Incubation

Since 1987, nearly 500 eggs have been laid by five females. Iaderosa, et al, (1990b) report
recent data. Egg deposition has occurred in all months of the year but more than 90% of
these events took place between 1 September and 30 April. Only 8% of the eggs laid before
15 October (= 30% of total eggs deposited) are fertile, while 41% of eggs laid after that date
to the end of the season are fertile. Overall fertility rate has been 32%. Clutch size has ranged
from 2-9 eggs (mean = 5.1). A given female may nest as many as seven times per year but
5-6 nestings/producing female/season is considered normal at St. Catherine's. Interclutch
interval has ranged from 21 days to 3 years. Occasionally a female has stopped producing
eggs for two or more seasons and then commenced laying again normally. Nesting times have
clustered around midday. Eggs are excavated from the nest, numbered with a soft lead pencil,
weighed and measured, and artificially incubated in air-tight 4 l containers, 1/3 filled with
moistened vermiculite (vermiculite/water = 1/1 by weight) in a commercial wooden chick
incubator (GQF #25). Incubation length, across all temperatures employed, ranged from 79-
273 days (means for 28.9° C, 30.0° C, and 31.1° C = 121, 112, and 114 days, respectively).

Hatchling Care

Hatchling tortoises are removed from the incubator when they fully emerge from the egg and
their yolk sac is less than 1 cm. In most cases this falls about 3 days after pipping. They are
weighed and measured, and their umbilicus is rinsed with Betadine solution. They are initially
set up in soft-paper-towel-lined aquaria and are given access to water daily. At 50 g the young
tortoises are moved to a substrate of Purina Horse Chow 100 and watered twice weekly before
feedings. Details about lighting, including UV supplementation, temperature regimens, and
general care of young have not changed significantly from earlier reports.

Adult Diet

During most of the year, graze makes up 80-90% of the tortoise diet. Common southern
grasses, a local vervain (Lippia), and legumes are favored foods. Tortoises appear to maintain
their own pasture as they regularly return to the same area to graze and thus keep the
vegetation (mostly grasses) closely trimmed. New growth is presumed to be higher in protein
and lower in fiber than surrounding mature growth. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides),
poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), live oak (Quercus virginiana), trumpet creeper (Campsis
radicans), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and a wide variety of other native and
introduced plant species which grow in the outdoor pens are eaten opportunistically. Twice
weekly tortoises are offered a mixture of chopped fruits and vegetables and a small portion of
Zu/Preem Primate Canned Diet. During the winter months, while the tortoises are in their
shelter building, seasonally available greens are fed daily. In outdoor and indoor facilities the
tortoises are fed free choice.