Michael W. Tuma, PhD

Ecologist, Evolutionary Biologist, Tortoise Expert, Authorized Biologist

Category: Pet

Santa Cruz Island Galapagos tortoises, , Galapagos, Ecuador
Tortoises are very social animals, and use a variety of behaviors and senses in their communications with each other. Photo by Aaron Logan.

Tortoises Through the Eyes of a Biologist: What Can Wild Tortoises Tell Us About Our Pets? Part IV: Social Behaviors & Communication

December 21, 2014 /

Tortoises are personal pets that have gained immense popularity around the world in recent years. And as evidenced by the proliferation of books and websites catering to the subject of captive tortoise maintenance, keepers of tortoises are constantly seeking information about providing their pets with optimal conditions.Many species adapt well to captivity, but pet tortoises are very much wild animals. Knowledge about their wild counterparts, therefore, may help tortoise keepers go a long way in satisfying the needs of their pet tortoises. The purpose of this article is to discuss aspects of the biology of wild tortoises – including evolutionary history, life history traits, physiological ecology, and social behaviors and communication – that can help keepers of tortoises provide a better existence for both captive and wild tortoises. In my fourth post, I discuss social behaviors and communication in tortoises.

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Yellow-footed tortoise
Forest tortoises, like this yellow-footed tortoise, are physiologically adapted to moist environments where water is nearly constantly available. Photo by Geoff Gallice.

Tortoises Through the Eyes of a Biologist: What Can Wild Tortoises Tell Us About Our Pets? Part III: Physiological Ecology

November 21, 2014 /

Tortoises are personal pets that have gained immense popularity around the world in recent years. And as evidenced by the proliferation of books and websites catering to the subject of captive tortoise maintenance, keepers of tortoises are constantly seeking information about providing their pets with optimal conditions. Many species adapt well to captivity, but pet tortoises are very much wild animals. Knowledge about their wild counterparts, therefore, may help tortoise keepers go a long way in satisfying the needs of their pet tortoises. The purpose of this article is to discuss aspects of the biology of wild tortoises – including evolutionary history, life history traits, physiological ecology, and social behaviors and communication – that can help keepers of tortoises provide a better existence for both captive and wild tortoises. In my third post, I discuss physiological ecology of tortoises.

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Galapagos tortoise
Slow growth and exceptional longevity of tortoises are hallmark life history traits in this group of animals. Photo by Peter Wilton.

Tortoises Through the Eyes of a Biologist: What Can Wild Tortoises Tell Us About Our Pets? Part II: Life History

October 21, 2014 /

Tortoises are personal pets that have gained immense popularity around the world in recent years. And as evidenced by the proliferation of books and websites catering to the subject of captive tortoise maintenance, keepers of tortoises are constantly seeking information about providing their pets with optimal conditions. Many species adapt well to captivity, but pet tortoises are very much wild animals. Knowledge about their wild counterparts, therefore, may help tortoise keepers go a long way in satisfying the needs of their pet tortoises. The purpose of this article is to discuss aspects of the biology of wild tortoises – including evolutionary history, life history traits, physiological ecology, and social behaviors and communication – that can help keepers of tortoises provide a better existence for both captive and wild tortoises. In my second post, I discuss life history traits of tortoises.

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Indian star tortoise
Wild populations of many tortoise species, such as the Indian star tortoise, are under threat of extinction due to exploitation for the pet trade. Photo by N. A. Naseer.

Tortoise Through the Eyes of a Biologist: What Can Wild Tortoises Tell Us About Our Pets? Part I: Evolutionary History

September 21, 2014 /

Tortoises are personal pets that have gained immense popularity around the world in recent years. And as evidenced by the proliferation of books and websites catering to the subject of captive tortoise maintenance, keepers of tortoises are constantly seeking information about providing their pets with optimal conditions. Many species adapt well to captivity, but pet tortoises are very much wild animals. Knowledge about their wild counterparts, therefore, may help tortoise keepers go a long way in satisfying the needs of their pet tortoises. The purpose of this series of posts is to discuss aspects of the biology of wild tortoises – including evolutionary history, life history traits, physiological ecology, and social behaviors and communication – that can help keepers of tortoises provide a better existence for both captive and wild tortoises. In my first post, I discuss the evolutionary history of tortoises.

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