page_title: Tortoise
section_title: Diet
hierarchical_section_title: Tortoise / Diet
caption_attribution_description: English: Gopher Tortoise snacking on Opuntia ( Nopales ) cactus at Smyrna Dunes Park I don't know how I missed uploading this shot yesterday. Anyway, here is one of my favorites from the series. I remain amazed at the speed these creatures are capable of in both eating and movement when they are motivated. Click on this link and read the first sentence of the 3rd paragraph. It says tortoises can eat the Opuntia cactus pads because they have no pain receptors in their mouths. fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/edible-native-recovers-from... I'm still not convinced but maybe that's it. It still would seem the spines could do damage to them but aparently don't.
context_page_description: Tortoises are reptile species of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines. They are particularly distinguished from other turtles by being land-dwelling, while many other turtle species are at least partly aquatic. Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like other members of the suborder Cryptodira, they retract their necks and heads directly backwards into the shell to protect them.
  Tortoises are unique among vertebrates in that the pectoral and pelvic girdles are inside the ribcage rather than outside. Tortoises can vary in dimension from a few centimeters to two meters. They are usually diurnal animals with tendencies to be crepuscular depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals. Tortoises are the longest-living land animals in the world, although the longest-living species of tortoise is a matter of debate. Galápagos tortoises are noted to live over 150 years, but an Aldabra giant tortoise named Adwaita may have lived an estimated 255 years. In general, most tortoise species can live 80–150 years.
context_section_description: Most land-based tortoises are herbivores, feeding on grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits, although some omnivorous species are in this family. Pet tortoises typically require diets based on wild grasses, weeds, leafy greens and certain flowers. Certain species consume worms or insects and carrion in their normal habitats. Too much protein is detrimental in herbivorous species, and has been associated with shell deformities and other medical problems. Different tortoise species vary greatly in their nutritional requirements.
caption: Tortoise feeding on a cactus
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