The Living Animals of the World, Volume II: Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fishes, Jointed Animals, Molluscs, etc.
Tortoises and Turtles 553 originally brought from the Seychelles, is definitely known to have lived for over 130 years from the date of its transportation. It is stated to have been of large size when imported; and as these animals are notoriously slow growers, another couple of centuries may be safely added to its life-span. The Galapagos Islands down to recent times have produced the greater number of species of these tortoises, the carapace of the largest of these not infrequently measuring as much as 4 feet in direct length, and the weight of such an animal being over 400 Ibs. Highly interesting details concerning the Galapagos giant tortoises and their habits are contained in Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle." At the time of that illustrious naturalist's visit they were still very abundant in the islands. He remarked that they abounded in both the higher and damper and the lower and arid districts, but gave preference to the former.
Photo by S. G. Payne & Son, Aylesbury, by permission of the Hon. Walter Rothschild.
ELEPHANT-TORTOISES FROM THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
Several species are shown in this photograph.
The old males were invariably the largest, growing to such a size that they required six or Ibs. of good, highly nutritious meat. Oneight men to lift them, and yielded as much as 200 some of the islands there was no water; and in these cases, as also when they occurred in the dry and arid lowlands, they were observed to feed chiefly on the succulent cactuses. When water was plentiful, the tortoises exhibited a great fondness for it, drinking large quantities and wallowing in the mud. In the larger islands, where wells and springs existed in the higher and damper portions, regular well-beaten paths radiated in every direction, indicating the routes, like sheep-tracks, regularly followed by the tortoises to and from the water-holes. It was these tracks which betrayed their presence and led to their first discovery by the older it is recorded thatSpanish navigators. When travelling long distances to the watering-places, they march night and day, pursuing the "even tenor of their way" at the rate of sixty yards an hour one yard per minute, or four miles per day! During the breeding-season the larger males indulge in hoarse roarings or bellowings that can be heard for a considerable distance. The female deposits her eggs either in the sand, where this is plentiful, covering them up 70
of the World554 The Living Animals
again, or, where the ground is rocky, drops them indiscriminately in any crevice or depression encountered. The eggs are white, spherical, and hard-shelled, as in all tortoises, and somewhat exceed those of a hen in bulk.
The very antithesis of the giant land-tortoises of the Galapagos Islands is the small and streets,familiar GRECIAN TORTOISE, frequently exposed for sale on hand-barrows in the London and acquired by the unsophisticated suburban resident as a quaint but not altogether estimable garden pet. Like the majority of tortoises, this is a vegetarian, and with epicurean tastes that will guide it instinctively to select your choicest lettuces and the gems of your The Grecian tortoise rarelyhorticultural triumphs for the delectation of its fastidious appetite. exceeds 5 inches in length, and is abundant throughout South-eastern Europe. Sicily, Italy, and the Grecian Archipelago, extending thence to Syria. In Algeria an almost identical tortoise occurs which grows to the greater length of 9 inches; while Greece produces yet a third form, the so-called MARGINED TORTOISE, which attains the greater length of 11 inches, and is distinguished by the colour of the carapace usually being black, with a small spot of yellow on each shield-like plate. All three of the foregoing species are collectively imported by shiploads for sale in England, and it would be interesting to know what fate befalls them. In Greece and Sicily they are regularly placed on the market as an article of food. When acclimatised in England, and even in their warmer native country, these Grecian tortoises bury them selves in the earth and hibernate during the cold winter months. Next to the typical Land-tortoises the so-called HINGED TORTOISES demand brief notice. The several members of this little group are denizens of tropical Africa, and notable for the circumstance that the hinder portion of their carapace is united with the anterior one by a movable ligamentous hinge. As a result of this peculiarity the animal, when Photo by S. G. Payne & Son, Aylesbury, by permission of Hon. Walter Rothschild, retracted within its shell, can entirely ELEPHANT-TORTOISE. close up the hinder aperture. None of Note the small size of the head with relation to the huge carapace. these forms exceed a length of 9 inches.
In another group, distinguished by the title of BOX-TORTOISES, a ligamentous hinge is developed across the centre of the lower shell, or plastron, which, being freely movable with relation to the upper shell, enables the animal, when retracted, to completely close up both the anterior and posterior carapace apertures. The box-tortoises are natives of the Southeastern United States and Mexico, and, in addition to the foregoing structural peculiarity, are distinguished by the high or vaulted contour of their carapace. In some the toes are slightly webbed, and their habits are mainly carnivorous, indicating affinity with the flesh-eating and essentially aquatic Terrapins.
Between the two, however, have been intercalated a little group, known as the POND- TORTOISES, one species of which is found in Southern Europe, and a nearly allied one in North America. These pond-tortoises are distinguished by the smooth and depressed form of the carapace; the toes are fully webbed, fitting them for an aquatic life; while a ligamentous hinge, separating the anterior and posterior moieties of the plastron, enables them to cover in and protect their retracted head and limbs, after the manner of the Box-tortoises. The carapace of the European pond-tortoise does not exceed 7 inches in length, and is usually dark brown or black, ornamented with yellow dots or radiating streaks. This species inhabits both ponds and running water, and during the daytime creeps out on the banks,
Photos by S. G. Payne & Son, Ayletltury, by permission of the Hon. Walter Rothschild.
GIANT OB ELEPHANT-TORTOISES FROM THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
The elephant-like character of their limbs, whence they derive their name, is well exemplified in these examples. 555
of the World556 The Living Animals
like the Crocodiles, to bask in the sun. As with, the Crocodiles, however, the daytime does not represent the period of its greatest activity, this being during the night. The pond-tortoises are highly esteemed for the table in the countries where they are indigenous.
The TRUE TERRAPINS are all tortoises of essentially aquatic habits, differing, however, from the water-frequenting Pond-tortoises, last referred to, in that they have no ligamentous hinge providing for the hermetical closure of the carapace apertures. The carapace and plastron, shell,moreover, are firmly united by bone, so that the two form conjointly a rigid, continuous as in that of the typical Land-tortoises. The terrapins are widely distributed, being found in North America, Japan, China, the Persian Gulf, Spain, and North-west Africa. Terrapin ranks highly as a table delicacy in the United States. The real DIAMOND-BACKED species, however, is now becoming very scarce, the supply not being equal to the demand, and many inferior varieties being substituted in its place. The " " for these terrapins is fishing mainly prosecuted during the autumn months, when the reptiles become dormant, and are easily discovered and secured by probing the mud with sticks. The female terrapin, or " cow," as it is designated, is considered the Photo by S. G. Payne & Son, Ayleibury, by permission of the Hon. Walter RotJischUd. greater delicacy, the eggs, to the GIANT TORTOISE. number of twenty or thirty, usually The giant tortoises, like the relatively diminutive European varieties, are essentially found inside its bodv beinff the ($, herbivorous.. r rigueur garnishing of the dainty dish. The diamond-terrapin rarely exceeds a length of 7 inches; but some of the inferior " varieties, or Sliders," as they are termed, are of much larger dimensions, and may weigh as much as 4 Ibs. From an aesthetic standpoint the PAINTED TERRAPIN undoubtedly bears the palm. Its is usually smooth, depressed carapace is not more than 6 inches long, and its ground-colour a dark olive-green, yellow lines bordering its component central shields; the small marginal shields. are sometimes almost crimson with black markings, and the " bridge " uniting the carapace and plastron exhibits the same brilliant coloration. The soft skin of the head, neck, and other exposed parts have yellow and red bands on a brown or blackish ground-colour. is a native of Eastern This beautiful little terrapin, which is a special favourite for aquariums, North America. Passing the small and not peculiarly conspicuous group of the AMERICAN MUD-TERRAPINS, we arrive at the very distinctly differentiated family of the SNAPPERS, SNAPPING-TURTLES, or ALLIGATOR-TERRAPINS, as they are variously called. These likewise are exclusively confined in their present-day distribution to the New World, though in former ages allied species inhabited Europe. The alligator -terrapins are characterised by the relatively small size of the carapace, within which the animal is unable to completely retract its head and limbs, as in the preceding types. The head is relatively large, and armed with a formidable hooked beak; while the tail greatly exceeds in relative length that of any of the ordinary tortoises or terrapins, and is scaly and crested somewhat like that of a crocodile along its upper ridge, and has horny plates on the under-surface. Their popular name has, in fact, been conferred upon these Chelonians on the strength of their presenting the aspect to no inconsiderable
Tortoises and Turtles 557
extent of an alligator's body, to which the carapace of an ordinary terrapin has been united. The common alligator-terrapin, or snapping-turtle, is among aquatic Chelonians an animal of considerable size. The carapace alone may be as much or more than 20 inches long, and to this have to be added the thick head and neck and elongated tail, which, taken together, are of almost similar dimensions.
A second closely related member of this family, known by the name of TEMMINCK'S SNAPPER, attains to yet longer proportions, and is the largest known river-tortoise. The carapace in this species may measure over 2 feet in length, and has three strongly marked longitudinal ridges. The head is relatively larger and the tail somewhat shorter than in the preceding species. It is a denizen of the southern districts of the United States, being met with in Texas, Florida, and as far north as the Missouri.
The habits of the two species are stated to be identical. Both of them frequent the rivers and swamps of the areas indicated, preferring the waters that have a muddy bottom, and in some localities occurring in vast numbers. As a rule they prefer lying in deep water near the centre of the river or swamp they inhabit, but they also occasionally ascend to the surface and float in midstream with outstretched necks. Like other water-tortoises, they come on land to find suitable locations for depositing their eggs. The name of Snappers, commonly applied to these tortoises, bears reference to their inveterate habit of snapping and biting viciously at everything placed within their reach. Even from the egg the young of Temminck's species is wont to display this trait. The animals are somewhat esteemed for food, and are consequently caught for the market. They will take almost any bait, but manifest a predilection for fish. Considerable caution has necessarily to be exercised in it is a common custom to decapitate them immediatelydealing with them in the boats, and they are hauled on board, otherwise they are capable of inflicting the most terrible wounds with their powerful cutting beaks on the persons of all or any who may remain within their reach. Bathing in waters tenanted by the pugnacious and distinctly aggressive snappers is a risky proceeding, and many cases of serious injuries that have happened to incautious adventurers in this direction have been recorded.