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What the sources say

Indian Star TortoiseGeochelone elegans

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Indian Star Tortoise profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 46 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Geochelone elegans (Star Tortoise). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysMoist deciduous forest, thorn scrub, and arid grassland
The source saysIndian star tortoises occupy a wide range of habitats, including moist deciduous forest, semi-arid lowland forests, thorn scrub forests, arid grasslands, and semi-desert.
The page saysacross three separated pockets of western India, southeastern India, and Sri Lanka
The source saysGeochelone elegans is found in three discrete portions of the Indian subcontinent: the first is in western India and extreme southeastern Pakistan ..., the second is in southeastern India ..., the third is on the island of Sri Lanka.Note: stats.habitat field; claim text paraphrases the field, quote is cut across three sentences of the same paragraph
The page saysMostly grasses, herbaceous leaves, fruit, and flowers, and known to eat insects, carrion, and dung
The source saysThe majority of the diet consists of grasses, herbaceous leaves, fruit, and flowers, but they have been known to consume insects, carrion, and dung.
The page saysA starburst shell pattern that breaks up its outline in tall grass
The source saysthe pattern actually breaks up and obscures the shape of the tortoise when it is hiding in tall grasses
The page sayseach scute has a pale center with yellow or tan lines radiating outward, forming the star pattern that gives the species its name
The source saysEach scute has a yellowish areola (center) with yellow or tan lines radiating from it, forming the star shape for which this species is named.
The page saysIn tall grass the pattern breaks up and obscures the tortoise's shape
The source saysthe pattern actually breaks up and obscures the shape of the tortoise when it is hiding in tall grasses
The page saysAdults also rely on heavy shells and on staying under cover when not foraging or breeding
The source saysAs adults Indian star tortoises are protected by their heavy shells and habit of staying under cover when not actively foraging or breeding.
The page saysEggs and young tortoises suffer heavy losses, taken by jackals, foxes, mongooses, hawks, vultures, monitor lizards and snakes
The source saysthis species undoubtedly suffers heavy losses of eggs and young tortoises from a variety of predatory mammals (jackals, foxes, mongoose, etc.), birds (hawks, vultures, etc.), and large reptiles (monitor lizards, snakes).
The page sayshumans are the most significant predator of juveniles and adults
The source saysHumans are the most significant predator of juvenile and adult Geochelone elegans
The page saysFemales are often markedly larger than males
The source saysFemales are often markedly larger than males.
The page saysmales have longer, thicker tails and a concave plastron that helps with mounting, while females have shorter tails and flat plastrons
The source saysAdult males have longer, thicker tails, and a concave plastron (which facilitates mounting and mating). ... Conversely, females have shorter tails and flat plastrons.
The page saysRival males compete by shoving each other and trying to flip one another onto their backs
The source saysMales compete for mates by trying shove rival males or flip them onto their backs.
The page saysmales give off grunt-like sounds while mating
The source saysDuring mating, the male emits grunt-like sounds.
The page saysCarapace: males typically 15 to 20 cm, females 25 to 30 cm, record female 38 cm
The source saysAn adult male's carapace typically grows to a straight-line length of 15 to 20 cm (about 6 to 8 inches), and females reach 25 to 30 cm (about 10 to 12 inches). The record reported carapace length (female) is 38 cm (about 15 inches).
The page saysBody mass: 1 to 6.6 kg
The source saysRange mass 1 to 6.6 kg
The page saysIncubation: 47 to 180 days
The source saysRange gestation period 47 to 180 days
The page saysnest temperature skews hatchling sex
The source saysSex determination is temperature dependent, with mostly males reportedly produced at incubation temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius and mostly females resulting from incubation temperatures from 31 to 32 degrees Celsius.Note: blockquote paraphrase of temperature-dependent sex determination; 'skews' reflects the source's 'mostly' hedge
The page saysgraze mostly on grasses, herbaceous leaves, fruit and flowers, and have been known to eat insects, carrion and dung
The source saysThe majority of the diet consists of grasses, herbaceous leaves, fruit, and flowers, but they have been known to consume insects, carrion, and dung.
The page saysacross three separated pockets of range: western India and the extreme southeast of Pakistan, southeastern India, and Sri Lanka
The source saysGeochelone elegans is found in three discrete portions of the Indian subcontinent: the first is in western India and extreme southeastern Pakistan (e.g., Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in India and the Thar Desert in Pakistan), the second is in southeastern India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), the third is on the island of Sri Lanka.
The page sayshabitat that runs from moist deciduous forest to thorn scrub, arid grassland and semi-desert
The source saysIndian star tortoises occupy a wide range of habitats, including moist deciduous forest, semi-arid lowland forests, thorn scrub forests, arid grasslands, and semi-desert.
The page saysBreeding usually coincides with the local rainy season
The source saysIndian star tortoises breed seasonally, usually coinciding with the local rainy season, which varies in timing.
The page saysAbout 60 to 90 days after mating, a female wanders and sniffs out a nest site, often urinating to soften the soil, then digs a flask-shaped chamber with her hind feet
The source saysAbout 60 to 90 days post-mating, usually in the evening, females begin wandering and sniffing the ground. When a female finds an acceptable nest site, she often urinates to soften the soil and begins excavating a flask-shaped nest with her hind feet.Note: "after mating" paraphrases "post-mating"
The page saysA clutch runs one to ten eggs, laid across as many as nine batches a year
The source saysThe female lays from one to as many as nine clutches, of one to ten eggs per clutch, each year.
The page saysThe eggs start out translucent and pink, then "chalk" to opaque white after two to three weeks
The source saysAt first the eggs are translucent and pinkish in color, but tend to "chalk" (become opaque white) after two to three weeks
The page saysIncubation at 28 to 30°C reportedly produces mostly males, 31 to 32°C mostly females
The source saysmostly males reportedly produced at incubation temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius and mostly females resulting from incubation temperatures from 31 to 32 degrees Celsius
The page saysFemales don't reach breeding age for seven to twelve years, males for six to eight
The source saysRange age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 7 to 12 years ... Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 6 to 8 years
The page saysTortoises from northern India tend to grow larger and darker with less contrast between the lines and the background, while those from southern India are smaller with sharper, more star-like markings. Sri Lankan tortoises tend to grow larger than the southern Indian ones and may have broader yellow lines, though plenty of variation shows up between individuals even within one local population.
The source saysIn general, star tortoises from northern India tend to be larger and darker, with less contrasting shell patterns, than those from southern India, which tend to be smaller and have more contrasting, star-like shell patterns. Sri Lankan tortoises may have more contrasting shell patterns with broader yellow markings and they tend to reach larger sizes than southern Indian tortoises. However, much variation occurs among individual star tortoises and within local populations.
The page saysfemales are often much bigger than the males
The source saysFemales are often markedly larger than males.
The page saysa male's are more elongated and set at a wider angle, while a female's are shorter and angled back toward the rear of the shell
The source saysMales have a different form of the paired anal scutes (posterior scutes of the plastron)— these scutes are more elongate and have a wider angle of separation than in the female. ... The anal scutes of females are shorter, with a narrower angle of separation directed more towards the rear of the plastron.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web's 2009 account found no studies of survival or lifespan in the wild, and its top recorded lifespan, 25 years, comes from captivity
The source saysNo studies on natural survivorship or lifespan in nature are available. ... Range lifespan Status: captivity 25 (high) yearsNote: 2009 is the ADW account date in its citation line ("Bouchard, K. 2009"); named so a reader sees the negative is dated
The page saysEach scute has yellow or tan lines radiating from a pale center
The source saysEach scute has a yellowish areola (center) with yellow or tan lines radiating from itNote: vibe.reason, re-paired in the wave 115 final pass (screenshot test)
The page saystags: omnivore
The source saysThe majority of the diet consists of grasses, herbaceous leaves, fruit, and flowers, but they have been known to consume insects, carrion, and dung.

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Geochelone elegans. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysCaptive longevity: a maximum of 24.3 years on record
The source saysMaximum longevity 24.3 years (captivity)

Source
03

Choudhury, Silva & Shepherd 2020

Choudhury, Silva & Shepherd (2020). Geochelone elegans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39430A123815345.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU). Geochelone elegans (Schoepff, 1795), IUCN taxon 39430.

Source
04

Sen 2023

Sen (2023). A review of the declining status of the Indian Star Tortoise in India with special reference to Rajasthan. Reptiles & Amphibians.

The page saysFigures from the mid-2000s, repeated in a 2023 review, put the number taken from the wild at 10,000 to 20,000 a year, peaking with the July and August monsoon
The source saysan estimated 10,000–20,000 tortoises are removed from the wild annually, with the peak collection season corresponding with the monsoon in July and August (Shepherd et al. 2004)Note: Sen 2023 repeats Shepherd et al. 2004; dated on the page rather than stated as current
The page saysthe number rescued from smugglers and households at about 3,000 a year
The source saysAn average of about 3,000 tortoises are rescued from smugglers and local households per year (Fife 2007; Gaur et al. 2006; Sekhar et al. 2004; Subramanyam et al. 2006)Note: cited works date 2004 to 2007, hence "mid-2000s"
The page saysthey can survive 10 to 15 days without food, which makes them easy to smuggle
The source saysTortoises are hardy and their ability to survive 10–15 days without food makes them easy to smuggle and thus boosts the trade
The page saysin many places on the subcontinent the species is thought to be a reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu
The source saysIn many places on the Indian Subcontinent, the Indian Star Tortoise is thought to be a reincarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu, as per Hindu Mythology
The page saysThe species sat in CITES Appendix II as recently as 2016 and is now in Appendix I, which gives it considerably stricter legal protection in every signatory nation
The source sayswas listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as recently as 2016 (CITES 2016). However, it is now listed in Appendix I (CITES 2023), which provides considerably stricter legal protection in all signatory nations.
The page saysIndia's 2022 Wildlife Protection Act amendment, in force from 1 April 2023, placed it in Schedule I, the country's highest protection tier
The source saysthe Indian Wildlife Protection Act amendment 2022 came into effect from 1 April 2023. Under the new amendment, Geochelone elegans has been placed in Schedule I ... the highest level of protection
The page saysThe IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, upgraded from Least Concern in an assessment published in 2020
The source sayswas listed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species until 2016 (D'Cruze et al. 2016) but its threat status has since been upgraded to Vulnerable (Choudhury et al. 2020)
The page saysa body that can survive 10 to 15 days without food
The source saysTortoises are hardy and their ability to survive 10–15 days without food makes them easy to smuggle
The page saysLocal residents collect them too, believing a star tortoise at home brings good fortune
The source saysthe great - est threat remains illegal collection either for international trade or by local residents, who believe that keeping a Star Tortoise at home will bring good fortune to the household

Source
05

Nijman & Shepherd 2014

Nijman & Shepherd (2014). Analysis of a decade of trade of tortoises and freshwater turtles in Bangkok, Thailand. Biodiversity and Conservation.

The page saysTwelve surveys of Bangkok's Chatuchak market between November 2004 and December 2013 recorded 653 Indian star tortoises openly for sale, the most of any tortoise or freshwater turtle species seen there, ahead of the African spurred tortoise at 536 and the radiated tortoise at 320
The source saysBetween November 2004 and December 2013 we surveyed Chatuchak 12 times, recording all species and quantities of tortoises and freshwater turtles openly for sale. ... The most common species in trade over this period were Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans (653 individuals), African spurred tortoise G. sulcata (536) and radiated tortoise Astrochelys radiata (320).

Source
06

Vamberger et al. 2020

Vamberger et al. (2020). Already too late? Massive trade in Indian star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) might have wiped out its phylogeographic differentiation. Amphibia-Reptilia.

The page saysone of the world's most heavily traded tortoises
The source saysGeochelone elegans is one of the most heavily traded tortoise species of the world
The page saysOne of the World's Most Traded Tortoises
The source saysGeochelone elegans is one of the most heavily traded tortoise species of the worldNote: heading; keeps the source's "one of"

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.