| Abstrakt: |
The South American tortoise Geochelone denticulatawas studied in the wild near Iquitos, Peru, and in enclosures in Lima. In the wild, specimens fed regularly on a variety of fruits that had fallen to the forest floor, as well as on mushrooms, dead animals and fæces. The reproductive behavior of the species is described. Captive tortoises consumed 100-125 g of food a day and experienced a weight increase of 43.3 g per day . Biometric data for 143 adult male and 57 adult female tortoises indicate that the length of the carapace is longer in males than in females, and that the length of the carapace and body weight were correlated (r2= 80%) . A survey of 80 families in the area revealed the extent to which this species is utilized for food, as compared to fish and domestic animals. Problems associated with raising this species in captivity are discussed. |
