Looks like you are using an old version of Internet Explorer - Please update your browser
The shell of the tortoise is not solid; it is made of hollow structures that are like air chambers.
The shell of the tortoise is not solid; it is made of hollow structures that are like air chambers. This design gives the tortoise the ability to carry its shell without being crushed beneath its weight. The shell protects the lungs of the tortoise, which are located on top of the animal’s body. However, if the tortoise is turned on its back, it may suffocate because its body could crush the lungs. The saddle-backed shell of some gives them a wider range of mobility, allowing the animal to reach up and get plants that are higher off the ground.
Leopard tortoise, Indian star tortoise
CLASS: Reptilia (reptiles)
ORDER: Testudines (tortoises and turtles)
FAMILY: Testudinidae (tortoises)
GENUS/SPECIES: Geochelone nigra
Size: Males: up to 6 ft (1.8 m); Females: 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m)
Weight: Males: up to 575 lbs (260 kg); Females: 300 lbs (136 kg)
Original Diet: Plants
Present Diet: Cactus, fruits, vines, and grasses
Habitat: Hot and dry islands and cooler, wetter islands within the Galápagos Islands