Burmese star tortoise
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Physical features
The Burmese star tortoise is named for the highly distinctive ‘star’ or ‘radiating’ patterns on their carapace or the upper shell.
The average size is 10 inches and the max size is 12+ inches
Females are generally larger than males. Males usually are only 1/3 the size of females.
The carapace (upper shell) is creamy white, light yellow, or light tan with dark brown or black patterns, but it appears dark with radiating yellow stripes forming the star patterns. The underlying yellow shell color can be seen in old individuals where the dark color has rubbed off.
The plastron (underside shell) is yellow or light tan with black blotches
The head, limb, and tail scales are whitish, yellow, tan, or even light orange. They have large, rounded scales on the front of the forelimbs.
The terminal caudal (tail) spike is a large, horny scute that appears at the end of the tail; males being distinguished from females by their much longer and thicker tails that extend beyond the cloacal scute.
These diurnal reptiles are active especially in the mornings and afternoons. They typically stay active year-round, unless it's very hot or cold.
They do not dig or climb, but they do like to hide under scrubs and bushes.
They do not hibernate.
These are one of the rarest tortoises in the world and because of this it is one of the least studied of all living tortoises. Very little is known about its behavior in the wild.
Range and Habitat
Range –the dry zone of central Myanmar (formerly Burma) located east of India and south of China
Habitat – Found in scrub lands, grasslands, forests, and forest edges
The local temperatures range from 40-50°F in the winter to over 100°F in the summer.
Diet: Herbivore
Wild – They are mainly herbivorous in the wild, grazing on a variety of plants, predominantly grasses as well as mushrooms and fruit but they may occasionally eat insects and their larvae. It has been reported that tortoises regularly consume fallen flowers, young grass sprouts, wild onion, and a terrestrial vine indigenous to the area.
Zoo – In captivity, they need a diet that is high in fiber, low in fat and protein, and has a high calcium to phosphorus ratio (min 2:1). This consists largely of leafy greens, hay, and a mix of chopped vegetables. They also eat leafy browse from trees.
Lifespan
Wild – estimated to be well over 30 years
Zoo – estimated at 35-80 years
Reproduction
They reach sexual maturity at 6-8 years of age.
Nesting has been reported to occur at the end of February, and usually four to five eggs are produced when in captivity.
Conservation: Critically Endangered
Major threats: habitat loss through deforestation and illegal poaching
Listed by IUCN as critically endangered in 1996 and since then, its numbers have continued to decline throughout its native range. Some experts feel that this species is close to extinction in the wild. The species was believed to be ecologically extinct in the wild by the year 2000.
Conservation breeding programs in Myanmar have helped reintroduction efforts into protected areas and have helped the species stave off extinction.
Wild fires also pose a threat to these tortoises, particularly to smaller individuals.
The Burmese star tortoise is fully protected by local law and it is a capital offense to remove them from the wild.
Interpretive Information
One specimen was captured, released, and re-captured 2 days later over a mile away from its first capture.
Zoo Atlanta has successfully bred this species many times.
This species is a good example of how breeding in human care can help wild survival of the species.
References
Asian Species Action Partnership: https://speciesonthebrink.org/species/burmese-starred-tortoise/ accessed 13 October 2023.
Behind the Scenes: A Tortoise Survey of the Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar. Sterantino, Dan. New York, USA. Retrieved 05/03/2010, from http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/shwesettaw.html.
Burmese starred tortoise (Geochelone platynota). Retrieved 05/03/2010 from http://www.arkive.org/burmese-starred-tortoise/geochelone-platynota/info.html .
Burmese Star Tortoise Hatchlings. (2009). Retrieved 05/31/10 from http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/01/burmese-star-tortoise-hatchling.html.
C.H. Ernst, R.G.M. Altenburg & R.W. Barbour. Turtles of the World. Retrieved 05/03/2010 from http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/bis/turtles.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=372.
McCloud, Kenneth. 2008. A Photographic Identification Guide to Star-Patterned Tortoises. Identification Guides for Wildlife Law Enforcement No. 12. USFWS, National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, Ashland, OR.
Praschag, P., Platt, K. & Horne, B.D. 2020. Geochelone platynota. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T9013A123815185. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T9013A123815185.en. Accessed on 13 October 2023.
Star tortoises. (2010). Burmese Star Tortoise. Retrieved 05/03/2010 from http://startortoises.net/burmese-star-tortoise.html.
Zoo Atlanta Animal Care Team.
Updated April 2024