It is often said that
Indotestudo elongata can be differentiated from
Indotestudo forstenii via the presence of a
nuchal scute. Unfortunately, it is not that easy as some Indotestudo
forstenii actually have a nuchal. Return to World Chelonian Trust Main Page for more Turtle and Tortoise Information
Differentiating Indotestudo forstenii from Indotestudo elongata - Chris Tabaka DVM
Copyright © 2003 World Chelonian Trust. All rights reserved
Related articles:
Differentiating Male and Female Indotestudo elongata (Elongated Tortoise) - Darrell Senneke
Indotestudo elongata - Elongated Tortoises Hatchling Care Sheet - Darrell Senneke
Forsten’s Tortoise – Indotestudo forstenii (SCHLEGEL & MÜLLER 1844)© - Darrell Senneke and Chris Tabaka DVM
It is often said that
Indotestudo elongata can be differentiated from
Indotestudo forstenii via the presence of a
nuchal scute. Unfortunately, it is not that easy as some Indotestudo
forstenii actually have a nuchal.
It has also been said that the difference between the two species is obvious via the differences in the markings of the plastron and carapace. Again, I have seen animals that could be easily mistaken simply by looking at the markings (especially I. elongata that look like I. forstenii in terms of their patterns).
Below is a pictorial summary of the methods I use to differentiate the two species.
The Nuchal Scute
If your Indotestudo has a nuchal scute...it could be either I. elongata or I. forstenii.
For example, the above animal has a pronounced, rather wide nuchal.
The animal above also has a nuchal scute but is a different species (top picture is I. elongata, picture above is an I. forstenii).
However, if there is no nuchal scute, such as in the picture above, then you can be reasonably sure you have a forstenii (odds of the animal being an I. travancorica, a highly protected Indian species which also lacks a nuchal scute, are extremely, extremely slim).
The Interpectoral Seam
This anatomical feature in my opinion is the best way to differentiate the two. The interpectoral seam is the two scutes that run between the front limbs on the plastron. In I. elongata, this seam is very wide from the front of the animal to the back of the animal (see picture of I. elongata just below with the interpectoral scutes denoted by the red bars):
In I. forstenii, the interpectoral seam is very short from the front to the back (see the picture of an I. forstenii below again with the red Ts denoting the interpectoral seam) :
If the above is insufficient for you to identify your Indotestudo, please feel free to send a digital picture of your animal to Chris Tabaka DVM at zoovets@chelonia.org or Darrell Senneke at Director@chelonia.org for assistance.
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