Species
Indian Star Tortoise
Reptiles
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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.
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