Luzon Peryamai

Megalochelys is from Greek word for "great turtle". The word Peryami, is the Anglicization form of Tamil for "big turtle", and it is used in TROQA saga for Earth Responsibly universe.

• Singular: mega tortoise, peryami

• Plural: mega tortoises, peryamoi

Megalochelys sondaari was the giant tortoise of Luzon, known for its large size (carapace up to 70-90 cm), part of the massive Megalochelys genus that roamed Asia, with fossils found in the Philippines. 

Megalochelys were slow but incredibly strong, capable of steady long-distance walking, and probably traveled periodically between feeding areas. These tortoises could float and paddle short distances, most likely across rivers, flooded plains, or shallow channels during low sea levels, but they are not genuine swimmers. They were buoyant yet awkward in the water, much like contemporary gigantic tortoises. For example, the scales or scutes covering tortoise shells are composed of a hard material that resembles fingernails and hooves. The scutes help protect the tortoise from disease or injury from a predator.

In Rapunzel's universe, every species of Megalochelys throw sand at the opponent using its mouth or legs causes attacks to miss, and can deflect projectile attacks and coated with dirt and sand.

Due to their size and protection from predators behind, Megalochelys atlas is the largest Megalochelys species worldwide. spanning from Malaysia to possibly Greece and India. Before going extinct, it faced competition in India from a variety of megafauna, such as elephants or wolves, which sprang out of nowhere.

Megalochelys sondaari was supported by four enormous feet, just like the modern Galápagos tortoise. Paleontologists think Megalochelys sondaari because the majority of the species in the allied genus Testudo are herbivores. This creature consumed the same food. Megalochelys sondaari was able to effectively expand throughout much of Southeast Asia because it was simply too huge and challenging for the majority of predators of the time to handle. As a keystone megaherbivore, Megalochelys mostly consumed grasses, leaves, shrubs, fallen fruits, and sometimes bark during dry seasons. Megalochelys played a variety of ecological activities, such as spreading seeds, forming vegetation, and disturbing soil by trampling. They played a comparable role to large ungulates in maintaining grasslands and elephants in browsing.

Reproduction

• Oviparous (egg-laying)

• Dug large nesting pits

• Likely laid 10–40 eggs per clutch

• Eggs possibly grapefruit-sized or larger

• No parental care after nesting

• Hatchlings are vulnerable to predators

• Extremely slow maturation

• Likely sexual maturity at 40–60+ years

• Lifespan possibly 150–200 years

Megalochelys were solitary but tolerant of others. They congregated at water sources and feeding hotspots, were active during the cooler hours of the day, and most likely employed neck dominance displays during mating. There was no indication of aggressiveness other than slight pushing or shell ramming. Like Aldabra tortoises, Megalochelys are probably peaceful, submissive, and uncaring. Unless it was in danger, this turtle was not hostile. This species could be trained to follow food, and it would tolerate a mild presence. The only things that could pose a threat are its massive weight and the possibility of accidental crushing.

Only in our and Rapunzel's universes (World-001), but not in Wirt and Beatrice's universe (World-002). It is thought that Homo erectus' migrational arrival and subsequent overexploitation of the animal led to the local extinction of enormous Megalochelys tortoises from a number of islands in the Indo-Autralian archipelago.

Their primary causes:

• Human hunting

• Easy prey

• Huge meat yield

• Egg harvesting

• Habitat loss

• Pleistocene drying and cooling

• Shrinking vegetation zones

• Large body size + slow reproduction = extinction-prone.

Giant tortoises have also been found in the islands of the Philippines. One of the biggest land-dwelling turtles ever was the Luzon gigantic tortoise (Megalochelys sondaari).

• Movement Pattern: Not Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 0

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: Philippines (Kalinga; Laguna; Manila; Palawan; Pasay; Rizal)

All tortoises are automatically tamed when hatched from an egg, as the survivor is always within 6 radius of the sac hatching. If the tortoise is somehow not tamed at birth, it can be tamed with a whip, any plant materials, buds, seaweed, or eggshells.

Seven Code Talkers events - 2000s

This tortoise fossil was excavated in Tres Hermanas, Rizal in deposits associated with the Laguna Formation by a team from UP NIGS and was described in 2007.

Coming soon

• TBA

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalochelys

• http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=375519

• https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines/posts/today-is-reptileawarenessday-and-the-nationalmuseumph-joins-the-nation-in-promot/3704666492890975/

• https://twitter.com/yuanalbano28/status/1346875935471988736

• https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1153014?ref=tortoises

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Megalochelys-sondaari-897973052