The Herpetological Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33256/36.4.279287

pp. 279-287

Authors: Josip Miljković, Kristina Popović, Simon Cirkulan, Igor Bošnjak, Kristijan Ovari, Milena Mičić, Tvrtko Mataušić, Ana Shek Vugrovečki, Ksenija Vlahović, Ivona Žura Žaja, Marko Samardžija & Dražen Đuričić

Abstract: The Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans, a vulnerable species listed under CITES, is distributed across India, Sri Lanka and parts of Pakistan. Assessing body condition is a fundamental component of reptile health evaluation, with Body Condition Score (BCS) representing the most widely used metric for this purpose. This study assessed body condition in 69 Indian star tortoises (55 adults and 14 juveniles) confiscated at the Croatian border and subsequently housed in five institutions in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia. Body mass differed significantly between sexes and locations, with sex-related differences varying among facilities. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of sex (F = 12.35; p = 0.0012), location (F = 7.80; p = 0.0034), and their interaction (F = 3.21; p = 0.0417) on body mass. For the first time, a morphometry-based equation was developed to estimate body volume in this species, allowing determination of mean body density (approximately 650 kg/m³). A novel equation for body mass estimation was derived, showing a strong positive correlation with measured mass (r = 0.923). Body condition assessment may be influenced by physiological and environmental factors such as hydration status, temperature, diet, and seasonal variation, while the reliability of BCS also depends on observer expertise. Standardised protocols, staff training and validation using wild populations and physiological parameters are recommended.

Keywords: Indian star tortoise, body condition score, body density, body weight, predictive model