Indian star tortoise, Sri Lanka

© Robin Chittenden/Minden Picture

Indian star tortoise

Here is a real star! The Indian star tortoise walks into today's image with exemplary confidence. A beloved inhabitant of the arid landscapes and scrub forests of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, this unique creature has long captured the hearts of wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. It measures between 18 and 30 centimetres in length and weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms.

What's the difference between tortoises and turtles? Tortoises are a family of turtles that exclusively live on land. Today, we know of more than 350 species of these reptiles, living on all continents except Antarctica. Did you know that these animals originated around 200 million years ago, which means that they are one of the oldest reptile groups on the planet? Or that some species can live up to 150 years? So make sure you respect and protect these shelled creatures—some of them are older than our grandparents.