Aldabra Tortoise Babies

Being a zoo keeper can be very exciting, especially when we get the chance to acquire and work with baby animals. We care for these young, vulnerable critters and take part in their growth and development into mature healthy adults. Some animals take longer than others to get to the adult stage such as the Aldabra tortoise babies that we received 3 times a year.

It may be 25 years before they are considered adults of breeding age, in contrast to some snake and lizard species that can hatch and grow to breeding age in a year’s time. Until the time these young animals are big enough to be housed with our current adult Aldabra tortoises, they will be kept separate and off-display where keepers can keep a close eye on their eating habits, give them an occasional soak, and record their weights over time. Within our large collection, we are currently raising Aldabra tortoises.

Fast Facts

Description

They are dark gray to black in color with a highly domed thick carapace, a very long neck to aid in food gathering, and short, thick legs.

Male: Males have longer, thicker tails than females.

Size

Male: Mature males have an average carapace (shell) length of 122 cm (4 ft.)

Female: Adult female carapace length averages 91 cm (3 ft.).

Weight

Male: Adult males up to 250 kg (550 lb.) or more

Female: Mature females average 159 kg (350 lb.)

Diet

Though it feeds primarily on vegetation, the Aldabra tortoise is flexible and opportunistic in its diet. In order to obtain enough nourishment for survival, the tortoise may supplement its diet with small invertebrates and even carrion (including dead tortoises).IncubationIncubation is temperature dependant: in warm temperatures, eggs hatch in about 110 days; in cool temperatures, eggs take 250 days to hatch.

Clutch Size:

Typically, the females lay between 4 to 14 eggs, of which less than one half are fertile. Within zoological settings, the average clutch size may be seen to increase, approaching 9 to 25 eggs.

Breeding Period

In healthy, uncrowded populations, a second clutch (laying) within the same breeding season is likely.

Sexual Maturity

Sexual maturity is determined by size rather than by age; most species begin to reproduce when they reach approximately half their full-grown size, usually around 25 years of age.

Life Span

Unknown, probably easily lives over 100 years

Range

The entire wild population of Aldabras is restricted to the Aldabra Atoll (a small group of coral islands in the island nation of Seychelles, north of Madagascar).

Habitat

There are many different habitats on the islands where tortoises can be found, including scrub, mangrove swamp, and coastal dune. The largest concentrations of tortoises are found on the grasslands called platins.

Population

Global: No data

Status

IUCN: Vulnerable

CITES: Appendix II

USFWS: Not listed