English             -              Red-footed Tortoise

Portuguese      -              Jabuti

Latin                 -              Chelonoidis carbonaria

Red-footed tortoises have many common names: red-leg, red-legged, or red-foot tortoise and the savanna tortoise, as well as local names, such as carumbe or karumbe, which means ‘slow moving’ (Brazil, Paraguay), wayapopi or morrocoy (Venezuela, Colombia), and variations of jabuti such as japuta and jabuti-piranga. (Brazil, Argentina)

Red-footed tortoises have a concave carapace. Their skin is mostly black with shells being typically black, grey or brown. Young tortoises have small distinct areas of yellow or tan colouring surrounding or covering each bump. Bright red marks may appear on the head. The legs and tail often have patches of orange, yellow or red. Male red-footed tortoises are larger than females and grow up to 34 centimetres in length. Females average 28 centimetres long. Adult male tortoises can weigh up to 9 kilograms. They frequently reach ages of 50 years or more.

Red-footed tortoises live in the countries of Panama, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, French Guyana, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. They can be found in rainforests, dry thorny forests, temperate forests, and in savanna areas. It prefers heavily forested, humid habitats but avoids muddy areas due to low burrowing capacity of these habitats. This species is less common in forest clearings associated with palms, mangoes, and other vegetation.

Red-footed tortoises are primarily herbivorous / frugivores but may also eat small amounts of animal matter, such as small invertebrates. Most of their food comes from leaves, grasses, fungi, fruits and flowers.           

Red-footed tortoises become sexually mature at around 5 years of age. They are polygynous. Males produce sounds and calls associated with a distinct gular motions that’s meant to attract potential mates and ward off competitors. Calls consist of a series of “clucks”, similar to those produced by chickens. Males also compete for mates by wrestling each other. The one who flips his competitor on his back, wins and gains access to the female and an opportunity to mate. After mating, females bury five to 15 eggs in nests excavated in leaf litter on the forest floor. Incubation time in the nest varies with local conditions, but typically, eggs hatch after around 150 days. Once oviposited, eggs are covered and there is no more parental care. Hatchlings dig their way out of the nest and are immediately independent.

As frugivores, Red-footed Tortoises are an important dispersers of seeds of tropical plants such as figs and bromeliads. One study found that viable seeds of both types of plants were found in the feces of several Red-footed Tortoises in Brazil. Red-footed Tortoises have not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (IUCN) However, in many populations throughout their range, they are likely to be in decline as habitat loss and over hunting pose a serious threat. Red-footed Tortoises occur in numerous wildlife reserves and national parks throughout its geographic range. Without current population estimates, it is difficult to predict the potential conservation and management needs for this species.

Photo of the Red-footed Tortoise was taken at the National Institute of the Atlantic Forest - Santa Teresa - Espirito Santo.