The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is native to dry scrubland and grassland across India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and is named for the star-shaped pattern of yellow lines radiating from each dark plate of its high-domed shell. It is herbivorous, feeding on grasses, fallen fruit, and flowers. The species has been heavily collected for the international pet trade, which, combined with habitat loss, led the IUCN to assess it as Vulnerable and CITES to move it to Appendix I in 2019, the strictest level of international trade protection.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Indian Star Tortoise (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: South Asia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Taiwan, found in there.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Indian star tortoise
threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
It is threatened by habitat loss and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.
human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
Conservation group TRAFFIC found 6,040 were seized globally that were intended to be sold in the pet trade.
system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forest.
system (entity description states it plainly, diet)
It is herbivorous, feeding on grasses, fallen fruit, and flowers.
Description
The species has been heavily collected for the international pet trade, which, combined with habitat loss, led the IUCN to assess it as Vulnerable and CITES to move it to Appendix I in 2019, the strictest level of international trade protection.
View the Source2. Indian Star Tortoise (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q846461 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
- Child Taxon Of: Testudinidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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