Yellow Footed Tortoise

Chelonoidis denticulatus

These tortoises are also known as the yellow-legged tortoise, Brazilian giant tortoise, or South American forest tortoise. They are found in northern South America in grasslands, savannah, and sometimes rainforests. They eat a variety of foods, including plants, fruit, carrion, mushrooms, and slow-moving invertebrates. Their shell is generally a dark brown on top and yellow underneath. They have long, domed shells that are mostly smooth. The forelimbs have five pointed scales that are yellow to orange in color. They are distinguished from the red footed tortoise because the reds have red spots instead of yellow. There are also yellow spots on top of their heads.

These tortoises are the fifth largest in the world, and third largest mainland (behind the African Spurred and Leopard tortoises). They are generally 1-2 ft in length, but have been known to get larger and weigh an average of 30 lbs. Males have curved in sides, almost like they have a waste, and their plastron (lower shell) is caved inward much more than the females. This is because females need more space to develop eggs in their body. Though not aquatic and cannot swim, they do enjoy being in water.