Glossary Of Tortoise Terms

 

   The following terms are used regarding tortoises, and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming when things get technical. So, we thought we would offer a basic explanation for some of the more common terms you are likely to encounter. A number of you may already be aware of the meanings but everyone has differing levels of tortoise knowledge.

 

   If there are any additions or corrections, you would like to add, please let us know- agtuk@mail.com

 

 

AGENT OF POLLINATION - It usually takes a few days to 3 weeks, for vegetation to pass through the tortoises system, once they have fed. Some seeds are 3 months in an Aldabras gut resulting in dispersal many metres away from host plant, which is what it hoped for, when it encouraged its seed to be eaten by encasing it in attractive flora and fauna. Some species of plant seed will actually only germinate once they have been through a tortoises gut.

 

APPENDIX II - This is the Aldabra Tortoises listing for Cites. There are 3 levels of Appendices in Cities, for the different levels of exploitation the animals are subjected to.

   Appendix Two are usually described as, not now threatened with extinction but could easily become so, this includes most tortoises. Appendix One is for the most vulnerable plants and animals, who are on the brink of extinction and require the greatest legal protection, to help them survive, like the Galapagos Giant Tortoise.

   If you are not sure what category your tortoise comes under you should check with Cites. You do not want to be charged with animal smuggling, even if it is accidental. Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse.

   These rules cover trade in both live and dead animals, as well as plants and either part, or whole, of an animal extract.

 

ARCADIA- A popular brand which provides lighting equipment for the tortoises environment. and housing. Many people use the Arcadia D3 100w Basking Lamp, also available in 80w and 160w, depending of the size of your tortoise. This provides a combined UV light and heat source. Over time their output effectiveness will diminish and you should consider replacing them around every 12 months or 3500 hours of use.

 

BRIDGE- This is the narrow side area of shell, which securely joins the Carapace to the Plastron (domed part of shell to underneath section of shell), along its side, between front and rear legs of the tortoise.

 

BRUMATION- This is something that tortoises (and other reptile species) do when it is too cold and dull, for the species who do not go into proper hibernation, to be moving around outside. It usually happens over winter, when there are prolonged periods of low temperatures,.

   The larger species who do not burrow underground to hibernate will find somewhere they feel comfortable and go into a trance like state to conserve energy. It maybe in a solitary corner or they may just be happy to remain sprawled out under their heat lamps, with arms and legs extended, at sometimes uncomfortable looking angles. It is a bit like us looking out the window on a cold, drizzly, winter day and deciding you will spend your time off having a duvet day, rather than battling to go to the supermarket in the horrible weather.

   They wont bother to waste energy foraging for food on a daily basis but on brighter days may still get up to eat and drink and relocate before going back into this stasis. It makes them slow to respond to stimulation, such as prodding and poking, and you may initially think they have died. However, this is a survival strategy that species have developed over thousands of years and is normal but they will not always do it every year. The weather around them is an important factor. You can help combat this by upping their levels of UV exposure.

 

CARAPACE- The domed area of the tortoises shell, running over the top of the body, from head to tail.

 

CHELONIA- Common name for shelled reptiles. It includes tortoises, turtles and terrapins and comes from the Greek word meaning Tortoise.

 

CHELONIA LUNGS - These are more like sponges than bags of air, like most lungs. They are located inside the top of the shell, which is why it is dangerous for tortoises to be on their back for long periods, as their internal weight presses down on them making it very hard for them to breathe and they can asphyxiate.

 

CIRCADIAN RYTHUM- This is the tortoises body cycle and it is dictated by heat and light. It helps your tortoise know when to eat and sleep. It is like us getting up when it becomes daylight and going to bed when it goes dark, however, we extend our day by having the lights on in the house at night. Disruption to the Circadian Rythum is why people who work shift patterns often struggle to adapt quickly to having to work night shifts and sleeping during the day, as it is not the bodies normal routine.

   In winter when the days get shorter it is this Circadian Rythum, which encourages hibernation or Brumation in tortoises. To avoid this you need to increase the length of time they have their basking lights on, to imitate a summer day length. This inbuilt sense tells them if it is worth them getting up to forage or to have a ‘duvet day’ and stay asleep.

 

CITES- Is the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora. It is a worldwide institution and now there are 184 member parties, there are very few countries that have not signed up to join and agreed to adhere to these standardised regulations, to improve the protection offered to these vulnerable species. The rules do not just cover tortoises.

   CITES rules for tortoises started 1 July 1975 to protect wild tortoise populations, from being plundered to extinction, by the pet trade, after first being thought of in the early 1960’s, Later European lawmakers added sections Annex A, B and C to elevate the protection. No tortoise species on the CITES list is allowed to be taken directly from the wild. All of these animals need an appropriate A10 certificate to be traded.

 

CLOACA- Multi-purpose hole in the tortoises tail for defecation, urination, mating and for females to lay eggs via.

 

COMBI BULB / BASKING LAMP- This is a single bulb which provides heat, UVB and UVA visible light, to assist your tortoise in processing calcium and vitamins, which is essential for good bone growth and to help in the prevention of the tortoise developing Metabolic Bone Disease.

   UVA helps to stimulate an increase in feeding, mating and other natural behaviours associated with summer sunshine.

   These bulbs are expensive to purchase or replace so situate the light somewhere you are not going to keep banging into it, and risk damaging or breaking it, but still gives the tortoise maximum coverage.

   Using a combi bulb does have the advantage that you will have less hanging lights in their pen and save space and equipment expense as it heats as well, rather than also having a ceramic heat bulb up. This is an alternative to using a T5 array, with separate heating.

 

CREEP- A group of tortoises but they are often more commonly known as a herd.

 

CREPUSCULAR - An animal more active in the morning and early evening, whilst hiding away in the heat of the mid day sun.

 

CRYPTODIDIAN- Means tortoises can pull their head directly back into their body cavity, beneath their shell, thanks to their unique S and Z shape neck vertebrate layout. Other animals would have to tuck their head across the front of their shell, exposing the side of their neck, rather than withdrawing it back into the torso. So, tortoises have greater protection from predators.

 

DIGITIGRADE - The act of an animal walking on their toes or fingers. Tortoises have a unique way of walking on their front legs, their wrists angle backwards rather than forwards like a human. So, they walk on their fingers / toe nails, rather than the equivalent of the palm of their hand.

 

DIURNAL- Means animals that typically move around during the day and sleep through the night (although they can also spend many hours asleep during the day, particularly if it is hot).

 

ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERS- This term particularly applies to the large species of tortoise, like the Aldabra, Galapagos and Sulcata, as their size means they are key for seed dispersal over a greater distance and can out graze invasive species allowing native species a chance to recover.

   This is one of the reasons a group of Aldabra tortoises have been relocated to Round Island, amongst other nearby island locations, in the Seychelles, to help it recover their native flora and fauna. They will naturally change and cause adaptations to how the Island evolves in the future. Certain species of native plants require going through the tortoises gut in order to germinate, so their presence is vital for the project to be a success. Seeds are not damaged through chewing and remain intact during passage through the gut.

 

ECTOTHERMIC- Animals that need sunshine and shade to warm up and cool down body temperature. Tortoises cannot pant or sweat so sufficient available shade is very important in their environment.

 

ESD / ENVIRONMENTAL SEX DETERMINATION - Means determination of a tortoise sex is governed by the temperature of the egg at incubation.

   Temperature will influence the number of males and females in a batch. At around 30 degrees Celsius they will be a mixed batch, above will be mainly females and below will be majority males. However, temperatures above 34 degrees will lead to embryo deformities.

 

ESTIVA / AESTIVATION– Is when the tortoises become dormant and go into a light trance like state to conserve energy, when it is too hot to move, particularly in dry conditions. It is like us living, or holidaying, in a hot country and having a siesta at mid day, so that you stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day but move around early morning or early evening instead.

   The African tortoise species, like the Sulcata are particularly prone to doing this. They will live off their fat reserves until it cools sufficiently for them to go out foraging again, it can last days and weeks in extreme cases. They will usually awaken more easily than when they are in Brumation, and once it either rains or the temperatures lower they will go out and feast.

 

EXO TERRA - A popular brand, which provides equipment for tortoise housing and breeding.

 

F10- a popular veterinary antibacterial disinfectant. You can buy it on eBay and other sites. There are other similar products available but this is the one that we use. It comes in either ready diluted or for you to dilute, to use as a spray. Other F10 products can be used as creams for animal injuries.

 

FINCHING- Aldabra and Galapagos Tortoises standing up when neck or legs are tickled. Usually this is only seen in island species, when standing still, in the open, for periods does not expose them to a greater chance of attack or predation.

   Having their body at full extension allows native birds to come down and peck any parasites and dead skin from the tortoises body, getting in to all of the nooks and crannies, which helps keep them healthy.

   This posture also has a more gruesome reasoning, which scientists think is learned behaviour. The standing tortoise offers an area of shade underneath it for smaller animals such as the birds, and they will take shelter beneath this ‘big rock’ to escape the heat of the sun. Unfortunately the tortoise will then drop swiftly back down to the floor, squishing and killing the animal beneath it, which will then be eaten to provide nutrition in times of little food being available.

 

GENUS- Aldabrachelys.

   These are giant tortoises that are / were native to the Seychelles location. Originally there were numerous other species of giant tortoise in the region, besides Gigantea (which is the species name that specifically applies to the Aldabra Tortoise), unfortunately, most of them have since become extinct.

 

GRAVID- A pregnant female tortoise.

 

HABISTAT- A popular brand, which provides equipment for reptile heating and lighting control.

 

HERBIVORE- Animals that eat plants and grasses, living off a strictly vegetarian diet.

 

HERPATOLOGY- Is the study of reptiles and amphibians (frogs etc). It is a branch of Zoology (the study of animals).

 

HIBERNATION- This is the natural deep sleep that most of the smaller species of tortoises enter into during winter, when it gets colder, days become shorter and food becomes more scare. The tortoises internal systems will naturally trigger it to begin entering the hibernation state, usually around September / October time, depending on the weather conditions.

   This is the animals natural way of preserving energy when replacement availability is limited. They will burrow beneath surface of the ground so that they can escape the harsh weather above and also to evade predators when there is less natural foliage to hide beneath. Their heartbeat and breathing slows right down to minimal levels, to allow them to barely continue living, without having to eat for several months. The advantage of this is that the underground temperature remains constant, at around 5 degrees Celsius and it takes much less effort for them to regulate their body temperature. Every time they wake up during a brief temperature spike it uses vital energy, which could make the difference between living and dying.

   When the days begin to get longer, usually around March / April time, and the ground begins to warm up, once more, they will begin to stir. Especially when the rains begin to fall and make it easier for them to dig their way back out to the surface and the water will encourage the plant life to grow and provide them with rehydration, and nourishment, after such a long sleep.

   It is important that the tortoise has a warm bath and fasts for around two weeks before they go into hibernation, so that they have an empty gut, otherwise food will rot inside the tortoise. This is one of the reasons that many tortoises do not survive hibernation. They will also require several warm baths when they wake up, to help rehydrate and get their internal systems to begin working fully again.

   With winter temperatures often becoming milder over the years, some people choose to hibernate their tortoise is a separate fridge, this means that they can set the temperature at 5 degrees and it remains constant rather than risking natural temperature fluctuations if you pop the tortoise in a secure box and leave it in the shed to sleep in peace.

 

HINDGUT SYSTEM - Tortoises have two digestive tracts , one conventional one and one that reabsorbs moisture from their waste products. This allows them to go for prolonged periods without water unlike other animals who pass their waste water from their body when their bladder is full, regardless of if it could help keep them hydrated.

 

INCORRECT HUSBANDRY- Refers to the care, cultivation and breeding element of animals, which is actually detrimental to the animals health, such as them being kept in the wrong temperatures or humidity levels, overcrowding, or allowing unsuitable animals to breed. Research on your tortoises requirements is always a good idea, not all tortoises are kept in the same conditions.

 

JACOBSEN’S ORGAN- Many animals have this. It is an area at the top of the inside of the mouth, In the case of tortoises, their neck muscles move its throat up and down, pumping air so that it passes over the organ as they breathe. It allows them to scent food, a potentially sexually receptive mate, or anything else of interest in their environment.

 

KERATIN- Is what the covering of the tortoises shell is made of and it is the same stuff as makes your finger nails, hair, Rhino horn, horses hoofs etc. Contrary to popular belief, in some cultures, there is no actual medicinal benefit in ingesting it in any form.

 

METABOLISM- Allows conversion of food to energy and body requirements.

 

MBD / METABOLIC BONE DISEASE - Developed deformity of the tortoises shell or body shape or texture. It is caused by incorrect husbandry and / or diet. However, parent animals with MBD will produce weaker offspring with a greater potential for developing the disease as well, and as such they should not be allowed to add to the gene pool.

   It is a conscious effort, by keepers, to allow and encourage captive tortoise eggs to be incubated in the UK, it is not something the animal physically does for themselves and ground temperatures are extremely unlikely to let it happen naturally. Nor are you surprised with unexpected live young (like a puppy or a kitten) so bad husbandry, in regards to breeding, cannot be claimed to be an accident.

   The tortoise needs a long term use of UV light in their environment. Get them into their outdoor pen in the sunshine, or provide a UVB light source in their indoor housing, so that they can bask beneath it for several hours a day. They need the UVB light spectrum to convert the calcium for healthy bone growth. Without access to this light, either by natural sunshine or from a bulb the calcium intake is not utilised and just passes uselessly through their system, whilst making their skeleton weaker.

 

MORPHS- The colour variants of tortoise skin and shell. This depends on their natural home environment. Lighter colours usually indicate they come from a warm, barren, environment. Shell colour is unable to change its basic pigmentation one the embryo is fully developed. Example: an arid desert species like the Sulcata tortoise will always be a varying shade of brown, it would never turn black like the shell colouring of a Galapagos Tortoise, which lives under more foliage and wetter, cooler, conditions.

 

NARES - tortoises nostrils.

 

NUTRIAN SAC- The sac which is attached to the umbilical cord providing vital nutrients, for the embryo in the egg. Once fully absorbed, this food will last the newborn hatchling for several days, after it has emerged from the egg, providing sustenance, if they need to rest and recover, or are unable to immediately locate food, once they have dug their way out of the nest..

 

NUTROBAL/ Also Referred To As Calcium Supplement- A commonly used vitamin and mineral supplement, applied to the tortoises food in powder form. ( Other similar products are available).

   This powder contains calcium to help prevent MBD, however, you need to use it in conjunction with the tortoises having regular and frequent access to UVB light spectrum, either from hours in natural sunshine or hours beneath UVB light emitting bulbs indoors, when the weather is unsuitable for them to be outside. If you do not provide this UVB lighting, in whichever form, then the calcium supplement is providing no benefit, because it is not being converted into anything useful, it will just pass through their gut without being absorbed. It is then just wasting your money and endangering your tortoises health, despite your good intentions.

 

OCEANIC DISPERSAL- Where the tortoises were washed off their home island or coastline and floated, either on a raft of driftwood or debris, or just in the water, occasionally swimming, in the case of larger species, to land on a new coastline habitat and begin a new colony, especially in the case of a gravid female. This is usually how island species of tortoises arrived in a new habitat. It has happened at least 3 times in the history of Aldabra.

 

OMNIVEROUS- Eats grasses and plants like a vegetarian but will also eat carrion and fish to supplement their diet. Aldabra and Galapagos Giant Tortoises both independently developed this, in order to maximise the food source available to them, on their native islands, and hunting is done by Finching.

 They are known as Opportunistic Omnivores as proteins in meat is not always part of their diet but they will eat it if they come across it. They are not going to waste a valuable food source especially if times are lean. Consequently they can exhibit cannibalistic tendencies and scavenge off the carcass of another dead tortoise. The hatchlings are more likely to eat grubs and insects to give them a good start in life,

 

OVIPAROUS- Females will lay eggs and not live young.

 

PACHYDERM- The thick leathery feeling of skin like Tortoises, Rhinos and Elephants etc.

 

PITH- A procedure, used by vets, to destroy the brain in a tortoise, by inserting a sharp tool into the head to destroy the brain cells and ensure death.

   In some cases when a tortoise has been injured it is difficult to be fully certain if they are dead. They can survive with a very low heart beat and low oxygen consumption, meaning the brain could still be alive. A sharp tool is inserted into the brain to destroy the brain cells. No brain function means certain death and the tortoise is able to be buried or cremated with humane certainty.

 

PLASTRON- The shelled area underneath the tortoise. It is usually fairly flat for females and more concave (inward curving) for male tortoises. This is to help him remain in place during mating. A flat Plastron would mean he would side off her back, more easily, and could end up rolling over and dying, if he could not right himself.

 

POLYGYNANDRUS- Tortoises will mate with more than one partner.

 

PYRAMIDING -A common problem with captive tortoises, resulting in shell scute deformity, caused mainly by excess of protein and inadequate calcium and UVB in diet and environment. The Keratin Scute coverings on the shell grow faster than the bone beneath so they are forced to grow up into pyramiding shapes, which become more susceptible to external damage because they do not have the bone strength supporting it beneath.

 

RED LIST - Is monitored by the I.U.C.N International Union for Conservation of Nature listing of threatened species. Aldabra’s and most other tortoises are classed as Vulnerable. However, some like the Galapagos Giant Tortoise are listed as Endangered, which is the highest category they have. Above that they would be Extinct, with no more of the species left alive on the planet.

 

REPTILES- Any cold blooded animals that require sunlight or artificial heat lamps and heat source to regulate body temperature, not just tortoises. Technically they are Tetrapod Vertebrates (an ancient lizard like animal with a backbone) with four limbs, or have descended from 4 limbed ancestors, like snakes have.

 

This category consists of :

• Testudines- which are tortoises, turtles and terrapins.
• Crocodilia- which are crocodiles and alligators
• Squamata- which are lizards and snakes
• Rhynchocephalia- these are Tuatara which are a type of reptile specific to New Zealand and resemble lizards.

 

SCUTE- These are the segments of Keratin covered panels that join together to form the whole shell and look like the rings of a tree stuck together. There are 38 scutes on the Carapace (the domed part of the shell) of each tortoise and 12-14 scutes on the Plastron (the underneath part of the shell). It will keep those scutes for the whole of its life and will not grow extra, no matter how big the species gets. As the tortoise gets older the rings grow, sometimes several times a year, on the base of each scute just like a tree ring and the tortoise gets bigger.

 

The Carapace Scutes consist of:

 

COSTAL SCUTE- These are the second row of scutes along the side of the Carapace, which fill in between the marginal and vertebral scutes and they are usually the biggest ones.

 

MARGINAL SCUTE- The lowest ring of scutes around the tortoise carapace. The head and legs are pulled in tightly beneath this to provide protection from predator attack.

 

NUCHAL SCUTE- The smallest scute is right above the head of the tortoise, on the Carapace. Not all species have this, for example- the Galapagos Giant tortoise doesn't.

 

SUPRACAUDAL SCUTE- This is the scute that covers the tortoises tail area on the back of the carapace. This scute on females is usually shorter to allow the males tail easier access during mating.

 

VERTEBRAL SCUTE- As it implies these scutes cover where the backbone is on the tortoise, running along the centre, over the Carapace dome of the shell.

 

The underneath Plastron scutes, they come in pairs (listed as they occur head to tail) consist of:

 

GULARS- These are bony forks underneath head, at front of Plastron, they are used mainly for attacking a rival, and for resting their chin on to sleep. The males usually have considerably larger Gulars than the females.

 

GULAR SCUTES- Correspond with upper chest area.

 

HUMERAL SCUTES- Correspond with shoulder and arm levels.

 

PECTORAL SCUTES- Cover the chest

 

ABDOMINAL SCUTES- Cover the abdomen and stomach area

 

FEMORAL SCUTES- Correspond with the hips and hind leg areas

 

ANAL SCUTE- Is by the tail. On the females they are more flexible to help them to pass eggs. The anal scute is usually a different shape between male and female and is used to help identify the sex of the tortoise.

 

SUTURE LINE- Also known as growth rings. These develop around the base of each scute, over the whole shell area, of the tortoise, and is how the shell grows. Aldabras growth lines are white fading to grey and then black. However, darker brown or black lines are produced for a lot of species of tortoises.

 

SPLIT SCUTE- Refers to the 5^th vertebral scute, which is the closest backbone scute, on the Carapace, to the tortoises bottom. It is common to a number of species of tortoise including Aldabra and Sulcata tortoises but not detrimental to their health. It is a cosmetic issue which may reduce the purchase price of the animal.

   It is a line, or several lines, splitting across this scute, altering how it grows. In rarer cases is can also affect the scutes arouth the 5^th Vertebral Scute The visible impact can range from just a visible line, to more than one deep groove dividing the scute into multiple sections. The cause is most likely due to genetics but could be influenced by MBD, or similar, in the parents.

 

SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC- There are differences between male and female tortoises bodies. e.g Males will have a concave Plastron whilst females are more flat. In larger species the males are bigger than the females, and have a bigger head and thicker neck. However, in smaller species of tortoise it is generally the other way around and the females are bigger, in order to have the room inside them to carry the multiple eggs. Males have longer tails than females but it can be difficult to accurately identify the sex of a tortoise when it is young, sometimes you need to wait until they are in their late teens to be certain.

 

S.I.F- SEYCHELLES ISLAND FOUNDATION- Manages and protects the area on and around the Aldabra Atoll, the native home of the Aldabra Tortoise.

 

SPECIES- Aldabrachelys Gigantea (Aldabra Tortoise).

   The Genus (Aldabrachelys) and scientific description of a genetically independent lineage (in this case Gigantea) are usually paired together to form the species name.

   Over the years the Aldabra Giant Tortoise has been referred to by several scientific names, however, in 2013 the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature met and finally decided on Aldabrachelys Gigantea as the official name.

 

T5- These are the tubes in strip light type lighting arrays, specific for animals, which contain numerous UVB bulbs to provide vital Ultraviolet Light Spectrum, to help process the calcium and vitamins. The tortoises need these vitamins to provide strong bone and shell growth. Lack of, or under use of, this light in their environment can be a cause of MBD.

   Arrays like this are usually used if you have numerous tortoises, so that they all have sufficient access. If you only have one or two animals a Combi bulb will often be more suitable and takes up less space.

   T5’s are not tubes that you would find in an ordinary human use strip light, such as in an office or workshop.

 

TESTUDINES- Is an order / family of animals including tortoises, turtles and terrapins, they are one of the oldest surviving reptile lineages, having been around from approximately 55 million years, and currently contains approx 50 species of tortoises.

 

TETRAPODS- Small lizard like animals that lived in swampy areas 320 million years ago. Their ancestors were fish, who grew limbs, and developed to look like a lizard. These are the ancient ancestors of reptiles. It was to be another 83-119 million years before the tortoise shape developed.

 

TORTOISE TURF - A popular grazing area on Aldabra containing 20 different species of grasses and turf. Many have evolved by altering their appearance and characteristics as a direct result of Aldabra Tortoises grazing and cropping them so low, in an effort to find enough food.

 

UNESCO- A United Nations agency set up in 1945 to promote international cooperation. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for conservation of world heritage and marine sites in 167 countries. It covers 10 million kilometres squared and has 194 member states and 12 associated members.

   In areas like Aldabra they help with enforcing strict control on the number of visitors allowed onto the island and how close shipping can be inland. Aldabra became a UNESCO World Nature Heritage site in 1982.

 

URATES - This is the white stuff, the consistency of cottage cheese, passed by some species of tortoises, instead of liquid urine. It is especially common in dessert species, who have a profound Hindgut System. It is a clear indication of how dehydrated the animal is, if it is drier and more chalk like or the tortoise struggles to pass it then the animal needs more water. Give the tortoise frequent warm baths to allow it, to soak and drink, to rehydrate.

 

UVA LAMPS - UVA is visible light and it helps to stimulate an increase in a tortoise wanting to move, feed, improve their mood and other natural behaviours associated with summer sunshine, including mating. If you are trying to keep a hibernating species up over winter you will need to increase their levels of access to UVA to fool them into thinking they are experiencing the longer days of summer. Animals that are kept under a UV lamp for prolonged periods will develop a darker colouring of shell. This is especially noticeable with Sulcata shell colours, conker coloured from time under lights. Whereas, those that spend a lot of time outside in natural sunshine will start to go a paler colour, more dark beige tones. Both are perfectly healthy but it is like comparing humans spending hours directly on a sunbed or just wandering around in the sunshine, they will both tan but to varying intensities

 

UVB LAMPS- These are lamps that contain a bulb, or strip light, that produces biological spectrum of ultraviolet light. These are not the same bulbs as would be used in a tanning bed, those are UVA lights.

This ultraviolet light is very important to the tortoises health because it helps to convert their calcium intake to Vitamin D3, which is important for the tortoises bone growth. During Spring, Summer and early Autumn the tortoise can get this light naturally from sunshine, when they are in their outdoor pen. However during late Autumn and Winter and on overcast days, when they remain in their indoor pen, they will require many hours of daily access to this light to retain optimum health.

 

UVC LIGHT- Sunshine is naturally made up of the UV spectrum in three parts - A, B and C. Reptiles do not need UVC light and at high levels of exposure it can be harmful to most animals.

 

VERTEBRATE ANIMAL- Tortoises have a backbone beneath their shell.

 

ZOOLOGY- The study of animals.

 

ZOO MED- A popular brand which provides equipment for tortoises.

 

ZOONOTIC INFECTIONS - These are germs that live within animals that can cause humans to be ill i.e diseases like Salmonella, which cause sickness and Diarrhoea. These infections are why it is important to wash or disinfect your hands after you have touched animals and especially before you eat food. They are also a danger to people with some long-term illnesses and pregnant women. A normal healthy person should not be overly worried about the possibilities of these infections, provided that you practice a thorough hand washing regime.