The Indian Star tortoise is an attractive tortoise found throughout India and Sri Lanka. In the wild it inhabits a range of habitats including tropical forests, semi-arid forests, grasslands and rocky deserts.

Indian Star tortoises are a medium sized tortoise and grows to 30cm in length. The shells are heavily convex in shape and the scutes have slight pyramiding.

The Indian Star tortoise takes its name from the star patterning radiating from the scutes. This patterning acts as camouflage, breaking up the outline of the tortoise as it sits and grazes in grassland.

No tortoise can thrive in our climate and all need a primary home indoors. Tropical tortoises, such as the Indian Star tortoise may however, be let out into the garden during the summer when the weather is hot and sunny but remember to ensure there is a shaded place available and the garden is secure.