Red-footed Tortoise

The Red-Footed tortoises have a domed shell with pyramidal raised scutes. The legs have distinctly pale yellow or dark red scales, hence its name. Males are generally more colorful and larger in size than the females. Found in the savannah and forest edges of South America, they prefer temperatures ranging from 65-85 degrees fahrenheit. The tortoise prefers to spend close to half of their day inactive and they can even rest up to 10 days at a time. Having poor eyesight the tortoises use scent trails to navigate around.

Red-footed tortoises can live for many decades in captivity, making them a lifelong commitment for anyone who keeps one as a pet — one of the reasons they’re also a popular species in zoos. Males compete for mates by head-bobbing and attempting to flip rivals onto their backs, a behavior that can look aggressive but rarely causes serious injury. Come see our red-footed tortoise at Plumpton Park Zoo — plan your visit.