Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) Fact Sheet: Behavior & Ecology

Adapted for arid habitats

• Activity may be similar to other tortoises living in similar arid ecosystems (Pritchard 1979)
• Typically feed and move around in early morning and late afternoon
• May be active mid-day during rain
• Lower activity during cool and dry periods (Platt et al. 2011)
• Shelter in thick vegetation or protected spaces (e.g., rock crevices)

Movements

• Not well known (Platt et al. 2011)
• Small number of individuals (n = 4) studied by Thanda Swe (2004)
• Daily movements and home ranges of males larger than females
• Seasonal change aspects not well known (Platt et al. 2011)
• Seasonally move into riparian (wetland) habitats, according to local villagers (Platt et al. 2018)
• Wetlands may provide protection from dry-season fires

Site fidelity

• Most individuals acclimated to release sites remain close (< 1 km) to area of release (e.g., Platt et al. 2015; Platt and Platt 2020)

Burrowing

• Start tortoises seek refuge underground during fires and the dry season (Platt et al. 2018)
• Partially bury themselves during dry season

Effect on plant ecology

• Seeds of some plants (e.g., Ziziphus spp.) dispersed after being eaten and digested by Burmese Star Tortoises (Aye and Minn 2019)

Other tortoises

• Range and habitat overlaps with the Elongated Tortoise, Indotestudo elongata (Platt et al. 2001; Platt 2001a; Bonin et al. 2006; Platt et al. 2011)
• Ecological relationship between the two species not well known (Platt et al. 2001; Platt 2001a)

Biologists know little about Burmese Star Tortoise ecology in the wild. Population declines driven by hunting occurred before scientists could study these already rare tortoises.

Long-term monitoring of reintroduced and wild-hatched individuals will help scientists learn more in the coming decades.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.