Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Kabigumila, J. D. (2000). Growth and carapacial colour variation of the leopard tortoise, geochelone pardalis babcocki, in northern tanzania. African Journal of Ecology, 38(3), 217–223.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:40:41 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Kabigumila2000 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Afrika = Africa, Geochelone, Habitat = habitat, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Stigmochelys, Stigmochelys pardalis, Testudinidae Creators: Kabigumila Collection: African Journal of Ecology |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis babcocki Observations were made of growth rate and variation in colour pattern of the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis babcocki) in northern Tanzania between October 1993 and June 1996. Growth rate differed significantly between tortoises, with immature animals (6.9 ± 1.4 mm month1) and females (5.7 ± 1.3 mm month1) exhibiting higher rates of growth than adult animals (2.9 ± 0.8 mm month1) and males (3.2 ± 1.1 mm month1), respectively. The faster growth rate in immature animals suggested that growth rate declined with age. The difference in growth rates between the sexes was ascribed to sexual dimorphism, adult females being larger and therefore growing faster than males. The carapacial colour pattern observed in the northern Tanzanian tortoises was generally similar to that described elsewhere in the species' range. The colour pattern varied between Arusha and Serengeti District tortoises. Animals at the Arusha sites tended to be sparsely coloured (55.6%) compared to the Serengeti tortoises, which had a buff colouration with radiating spots (89.3%).; The sparse colouration provides effective camouflage in the drier Arusha habitats, as does the buff colouration with black spots in the wetter, darker habitats in the Serengeti.
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