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Published: 2024-05-03 08:20:07 +0000 UTC; Views: 1575; Favourites: 34; Downloads: 2
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Description
The Swamp tortoise is the sole species in it's genus (Voltachelys) and it is a sister group to the Magnachelys clade.Swamp Tortoises exhibit a robust and elongated carapace which makes it easier to move through the reeds. Mosses and algae often grow on its carapace, serving as camouflage amidst the dense vegetation of wetlands. Adult individuals typically measure around 120 cm in length, with females slightly larger than males.
The diet of the Swamp Tortoise consists predominantly of aquatic plants, including various species of submerged vegetation, grasses, and reeds. Their beaks are adapted for efficiently cropping and processing these fibrous plant materials, allowing them to extract nutrients from the tough grasses.
They are primarily solitary creatures, with minimal social interactions outside of the mating season. Breeding occurs during the drier months of the year when females seek out suitable nesting sites in the form of dry mounds or elevated areas within the swamp. Here, they deposit clutches of eggs, which are left to incubate unattended until hatching. This means they are very vulnerable to predation in this life stage.