- Origin: Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Caribbean islands
- Class: Reptiles
- Order: Testudines
- Suborder: Cryptodires
The redfooted tortoise lives in the wet savannahs and forest margins of river basins in South America. Its legs are covered in scales with spots identical in colour to those on its head, and it varies in size from around 25 to 40 cm. Avoiding the hot hours of the day, it is active in the morning and evening.
Essentially a frugivore and herbivore, it rarely feeds on small vertebrates, mushrooms or carrion. Like other species, it contributes to the dissemination of undigested seeds through its excrement. A solitary species, it only meets other species for breeding. The female lays 2 to 12 eggs, incubating for around 150 days. At birth, the young measure less than 5 cm and weigh 28 g. They do not reach adult size until they are 18-20 years old, and live for around 50 years.