As a card-carrying member of the ancient order of Chelonia (Testudines), you might as well be planetary royalty. Depending on who you ask (and how accurate their research may be), your shelled kind, the “tortoise,” may even predate the venerated dinosaurs! And yet your large shell-less assistant can’t seem to keep herself from “oohing” andContinueContinue reading “Day 197: That Tortoise Tongue”
Tag Archives: redfoot tortoise
Day 194: Tortoise Tucks Into Edible Greens
Being born as a redfoot tortoise who is expected to find her own snacks from day one, it pays to get to know your colors pronto. For instance, those adorable dots all over your legs and face – those are red dots. The slightly larger (and equally adorable) dots on your back – well, those areContinueContinue reading “Day 194: Tortoise Tucks Into Edible Greens”
Day 191: Redfoot Tortoise Is a Standup Girl
No one thinks of tortoises as being “tall.” Nope. If you are born wearing a shell on your back, everything thinks you are short and slow and all they see is a rock on legs. At first. If you have a shell and you want to really give your large shell-less assistant a shock, thereContinueContinue reading “Day 191: Redfoot Tortoise Is a Standup Girl”
Day 188: Tortoise Knows How to Look (& Stay) Cool
When juvenile shell-less beings hang out, they have this tendency to slouch….something about “looking cool.” As a tortoise who has been cohabitating with an interspecies flock for a time, you might find it interesting to try out some of these new mannerisms you are observing. After all, you are a “juvenile” also – and “lookingContinueContinue reading “Day 188: Tortoise Knows How to Look (& Stay) Cool”
Day 185: Tortoise Gets the Ball Rolling
When you are lucky enough to be born a tortoise, “cuteness” can be very useful for getting your large shell-less assistant’s attention. Do something ridiculously easy that she thinks you could never do and voila – the world is your oyster (or your freeze-dried mealworm, preferably). Of course, this can backfire if you do tooContinueContinue reading “Day 185: Tortoise Gets the Ball Rolling”
Day 182: Tortoise Destroys Zucchini
Living your whole life in a natural green space, you begin to develop an instinctive aesthetic about what should go where. As long as you are left to your own devices to garden and cultivate when you like, where you like, things will continue to go smoothly. But then let’s say you decide to takeContinueContinue reading “Day 182: Tortoise Destroys Zucchini”
Day 179: Tortoise Does Forest Maintenance
Many large shell-less beings like to visit forests to do something they call “camping.” While they are there, they erect small temporary shells that they crawl into – although oddly, only at night. During the day, they mostly wander about totally unprotected, making lots of noise, climbing things they shouldn’t be climbing, tripping over thingsContinueContinue reading “Day 179: Tortoise Does Forest Maintenance”
Day 176: Tortoises With a (Red Dotted) Face
The large shell-less beings aren’t the only ones who care about fashion. Style is just one of those interests that crosses gender, age and….species. After all, the more stylish you become, the cuter you feel – and look! Let’s say, for instance, after perusing your many style options and choices, you decide to go withContinueContinue reading “Day 176: Tortoises With a (Red Dotted) Face”
Day 173: When It Rains, the Tortoise Wallows
The word “tropical” can mean very different things to different species. To the large shell-less beings, the tropics frequently conjures up images of pina coladas and suntan lotion. But if you have a shell on your back and hail from a tropical location, there is just one thing that comes to mind when you thinkContinueContinue reading “Day 173: When It Rains, the Tortoise Wallows”
Day 170: Slow, Slower, Slowest
It is no secret the large shell-less beings view beings with shells as not very speedy. But when you have your own specific place and part to play in the greater “food chain o’ life,” speed is a relative term. In other words, you don’t need to be the fastest life form on the planetContinueContinue reading “Day 170: Slow, Slower, Slowest”
Love & Feathers & Shells 