Description Elongated tortoise

elongated tortoise in dusit zoo

shell considerably depressed, more twice long deep, flat vertebral region; anterior , posterior margins reverted, serrated in young, feebly in old specimens; shields concentrically striated, except in old specimens; nuchal present (rarely absent), narrow , elongate; supracaudal undivided, more or less incurved; first vertebral long broad in adult, others broader long , broad costals. plastron large, truncate anteriorly, notched posteriorly; suture between pectoral shields long or longer between humerals; suture between gulars long or little shorter between pectorals; anals forming short suture, or entirely separated anal notch; axillary , inguinal moderate. head moderate; pair of large praefrontal shields, followed equally large frontal; beak feebly hooked, tricuspid; alveolar ridge of upper jaw short , rather feeble. anterior face of fore limbs moderate, unequal-sized, imbricate scales, largest towards outer side; no enlarged tubercles on thighs; tail ending in claw-like horny tubercle. carapace , plastron greenish yellow, each shield irregular black spot or blotch, may occupy greater portion, or may broken or indistinct.

size

typically, indotestudo elongata around 30 cm (12 inches) long , 3.5 kg (7 pounds) adult. females tend wider males , more rounded. males have tail larger of female. males have concave plastron while plastron of female flat. additionally, female s posterior claws markedly longer , more curved of male. believed facilitate nest building.