Burma Mountain Tortoise
"The grandma you've been talking about is a tortoise!"
"Yes, so? She's been living off fruit salad for the last three years."
The tortoise looked up patiently at the martial arts guild master and her student.
Basic Information
Anatomy
These tortoises have four legs, a head, and a tail; all which can retract into their shells.
Their legs are covered in huge scales that end at their toes.
Their shells are smooth and domed on the upper side.
Their legs are covered in huge scales that end at their toes.
Their shells are smooth and domed on the upper side.
Biological Traits
These tortoises get darker with age, becoming dark brown or even black in adulthood.
Genetics and Reproduction
When they court, male Burma Mountain tortoises headbang at females to show their interest. The tortoises will proceed to mate if the partner is interested, but "play tag" if not until they show interest again.
They lay eggs in piles of dirt, which incubate for at least sixty days and even up to ninety. The mother will protect the eggs and babies, even ramming into predators and other tortoises if they approach.
They lay eggs in piles of dirt, which incubate for at least sixty days and even up to ninety. The mother will protect the eggs and babies, even ramming into predators and other tortoises if they approach.
Ecology and Habitats
They prefer damp cool places near fresh water sources.
Dietary Needs and Habits
They mainly eat plants, and tortoises kept as pets have grown a taste for stir fried salad and oatmeal porridge.
Rarely, some mountain tortoises eat bugs if they can catch them in time.
Rarely, some mountain tortoises eat bugs if they can catch them in time.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Tortoises generally live alone, only coming together to reproduce.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
As tortoises are believed to be totems of long life, there have been cases of tortoises stolen from jungles and brought to become temple animals in Luoyang as well as the rest of the Tang Colony States.
Crackdowns on exotic poaching reduced the number of cases, but now the previously kidnapped tortoises have to be looked after.
Crackdowns on exotic poaching reduced the number of cases, but now the previously kidnapped tortoises have to be looked after.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
They're usually found in South East Asia, right on the other side of the world. This is why they are so exotic by Tang Colony standards.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Tortoises have sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste.
Scientific Name
Manouria Emys
Lifespan
150 years
Conservation Status
Burma Mountain tortoises are currently endangered, though plans are underway to keep them in zoos and potentially clone several lines of them as backup.
Average Height
0.5 m
Average Weight
25 - 50 kg
Average Length
1 - 1.5 m
Average Physique
Burma Mountain tortoises are usually tremendously fat and round, as far as their shells can go.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
They start off as yellow, but turn brown as they get older. Some even become black tortoises.
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