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Aldabra Tortoise


Aldabra Tortoise
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-22
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-30 19:28
Viewed: 4491
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Aldabra Tortoise
Geochelone gigantea

DESCRIPTION:
Hind legs are cylindrical and columnar like those of an elephant. Forelegs have anterior surface covered by thick, often bony scales. Toes are short; two-jointed. Snake-like neck and legs are retractile. The very small pointed head is covered with scales. High domed gray shell can measure up to 56” in length. Weight to 560 pounds. Males are larger than females and have longer, thicker tails.

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:
Aldabra Island in the Indian Ocean, near the Seychelles. They live in grasslands, scrub areas and mangrove swamps.

DIET:
Strictly herbivorous and eat grasses, sedges, herbs, and woody plants. In captivity, feed on great quantities of cabbage leaves and other green stuffs.

LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
Normal breeding season is from January to April. In courting, the male batters his shell against a female a dozen or more times and he makes a deep, trumpeting call when mating. After carrying the fertilized ova for about ten weeks, the female digs a hole in the ground and buries 9 to 25 spherical, tennis-ball-sized eggs. The incubation period ranges from 73 to 160 days with the young emerging during an eight-week period coinciding with the beginning of the wet season. New-born are very small; after 18 months they are still no bigger than a man's fist and weigh less than three ounces. The carapace is soft at first. Growth continues for forty years. Oldest recorded age is 152 years.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:
Carapace has small neck plate absent in other species. Able to go without food for several weeks.

INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION::
Wallows in mud to protect against mosquitoes. In captivity, they quickly learn to recognize their keepers. Knife-like jaws could easily crush a person’s hand. They seldom breed in captivity, unlike the Galapagos Tortoise. Conical “pyramiding “ of the carapace scutes is a common growth defect in captive tortoises, related to a dietary deficiency and possibly to too-rapid growth.

STATUS IN THE WILD:
Endangered and protected on Aldabra. Small populations have been introduced to neighboring islands and are also protected. Of the four races of giant tortoises once present on islands in the Indian Ocean, only the Aldabra Tortoise survived beyond the beginning of the 19th century. In the late 1880’s Charles Darwin and other eminent naturalists signed a formal petition with the hope of saving the Aldabra Tortoise, which led to their protection.

This photo was taken at the Oakland Zoo.

Source
haraprasan, Proframe, vanderschelden, Luis52, gannu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Manyee,
A nice capture of this beautiful tortoise. Excellent sharp details and well composed. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Manyee,

Very nice shot with lovely pose of the Tortoise holding the head a bit sidewards
Like the diagonall line very much and the patterns on the shell and skin are beautiful on most parts.
A view burn out spots on the head thow, but that might have been coused by the harsh sunlight.
Excellent sharpness and note. Very well framed. TFS!!!

Best wishes, Harry

Hello Manyee,
The frame is well filled.
Good sharpness.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-03-31 8:30]

Hola Manyee.
Siempre he sido un gran admirador de estas hermosos creaturas que comparten su espacio en la Naturaleza. Son por lo general muy longevas y es de admirar su paciencia.
La foto es exelente, asi como la nota que la acompaña.
Saludos Manyee.
Luis52.

hi nice shot
I really like this pov and the details
also ver< good sharpness and good colours
nice shot
tfs Toba

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-03-31 10:22]

Manyee very nice note and lovely capture of this little fella. Sharp details and nice compo. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2008-03-31 17:11]

Hi Manyee,
Very nice shot! Great composition and excellent detail.
Chi

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 154 W: 1 N: 6] (251)
  • [2008-04-01 17:56]

Hi Manyee,
Thank you for visiting. I like your picture. Very impressive turtel . Pleasant colour and perfect details.
My compliments and kind regards.
Roger

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-05 22:24]

Hello Manyee

An interesting composition for this large tortoise.I like the diagonal look of the shot.
The focus is sharp and the details are excellent.
Very good textures and colours captured.
The POV and DOF are well handled.
TFS

Rob

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