Robert Humair Date
Robert Humair Date Weight (kg) measured along the curvature of the shell Carapace length (mm) measured in a straight line Circumference at the waist (mm) 15. Feb. 2002 - 430 355 568 22. Apr. 2002 5.90 465 380 605 05. Aug. 2005 > 7.71 474 385 632 27. Dec. 2006 - 440 (?) - 630 20. Jul. 2007 7.71 47X 410 640 02. Aug. 2009 8.80 480 410 660 Tab. 12. Biometric data of a male Chelonoidis denticulata (specimen No. 26); weights are rounded to two decimal places. Like females, males continue to gain weight after becoming sexually mature, but continue to grow only at a slow pace. Female 2 Juvenile 5 Juvenile 7 Female 12 Female 16 Female 23 Female 27 Male 26 Fig. 5. Comparison of biometric data (Tab. 5-12) of South American Yellow-footed Tortoises in my care; vertical = weight, horizontal = date of measurements taken). Conclusion This paper may be as entertaining as a textbook on bookkeeping, yet it provides information on growth and weight gains of South American Yellow-footed Tortoises from a period of up to fifteen years. While I was collecting data I also thought of the scientists and their assistants who have to work under straining conditions in the field – in the bright sun in humid hot weather, with their feet in the mud and exposed to incessant attacks by mosquitoes and other pests – if they want to gather this type of information. I will be happy to make available on request further data that have not been included in the present paper. References Jackson, O. F. (1980): Weight and measurement data on tortoises (Testudo graeca and Testudo hermanni) and their relationship to health. – J. Small Anim. Pract., London, 21 (7): 409-416. McArthur, S. (1996): Veterinary Management of Tortoises and Turtles. – Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Cambridge & Carlton (Blackwell Science), 176 pp. Author Robert Humair Calle Vargas Guerra 1221 (Pasaje Garisho) Iquitos (Loreto) Peru E-mail: Humair22_3@yahoo.es 30 RADIATA 22 (4), 2013
Thomas H. Kaminski & Andreas S. Hennig Brief Note on the Find of a Common Snake-necked Turtle, Chelodina longicollis (Shaw, 1794) in the Australian State of New South Wales The distribution range of the Common Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis) lies in the east and southeast of Australia. It extends from central Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria, with the western limits reaching the southeastern and northeastern parts of the state of South Australia. The turtle finds suitable habitats in rivers, swamps, lagoons and artificial bodies of water (comp. Cann 1998, 2008). Cattle farming is extensive in Australia and necessitates that artificial watering places be set up to maintain a constant source of drinking water for livestock in particular during the dry seasons. This involves the building of dams in natural rivers and streams that are packed with loam or clay. When the natural flowing waters now dry up in summer, the dammed-up sections will still retain some water for the herds of cattle. These dams also form habitats for Chelodina longicollis, in particular Figs. 1, 2–5 (next page). Chelodina longicollis found in a stream near Cumnock (New South Wales, Australia). Photos: Thomas H. Kaminski RADIATA 22 (4), 2013 31
