Burmese Star Tortoise

Burmese star tortoise is one of the most beautiful tortoises. The oval shaped carapace (upper shell) measuring 26 cm is characterized by a highly distinctive star or radiating pattern. The dark brown to black, domed carapace is marked with up to six radiating yellow stripes emerging from small, yellow central areas (areolae), creating a star pattern that gives this tortoise its unique appearance. The underside or plastron is yellow with each scute having a dark brown or black blotch. The head is of moderate size with a non-projecting snout and a three pointed upper jaw. The skin of the head, limbs and tail are yellow to tan. The forelimbs have large pointed to rounded scales and a large, horny scale also appears at the end of the tail. Males are distinguished from the females by a much thicker and longer tail.