Animal Atlas Correct?

[wellington]

I am now watching Animal Atlas. The statement was made that some tortoises have smooth shells and some have bumpy shells. Where the scutes look like pyramids. Are there any tortoises that are suppose to have pyramiding? Or is it possible that this program, that should know what they are talking about, just stated one of the most damaging statements to tortoises? Does anyone know?

 

[Tom]

Oh I can't hardly watch those show there is so much mis-information. Often I get sick of listening to them saying the wrong stuff and I just mute the sound and look at the pretty pictures.

About the subject there is much debate over this. I think that no, pyramiding does not occur naturally. There have been imported leopards with some pyramiding, but I propose that they did not grow up in the wild. At the TTPG conference this year two of the presenters showed pics of "wild" radiateds with some mild pyramiding. But they were living near the human farms eating crops and eating the non-native introduced opuntia. One could argue that even though they are eating introduced man-made food, the are still, technically, living wild. Same thing with the stars living in the Indian bean fields. Or any other "farm" raised species.

 

[GBtortoises]

It is proven that some races of Eastern and Dalmatian Hermann's that are found in unusually arid regions for the species, have some natural pyramiding. However, due to their slow growth in the wild and natural erosion it is nothing like captive pyramiding can be.