Indotestudo travancorica (Boulenger 1907) – Travancore Tortoise.

The Travancore Tortoise, Indotestudo travancorica (Family Testudinidae) is a medium-sized tortoise (straight carapace length [SCL] up to 331 mm) endemic to the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats in southwestern India. The taxonomy of the genus Indotestudo has recently been revised, and I. travancorica is considered a distinct species. It is found in semi-ever-green, evergreen, moist deciduous, and bamboo forests, as well as in rubber and teak plantations, occurring mostly near streams and marshes, with a home range of 5.2�34 ha. Travancore Tortoises are omnivorous; their diet encompasses grasses to mollusks and they occasionally scavenge on dead animals. They breed from November to March in captivity, have a clutch size of 1�5 eggs, and hatchlings measure 55�60 mm SCL. The major threats to this species are hunting and habitat loss. Conservation measures should focus on protection, identification of crucial tortoise habitats, and increasing awareness among local communities