Editorial Type:
Article Category: Discussion
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Online Publication Date: 18 Jul 2021

Edema in Giant Tortoises

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Page Range: 220 – 238
DOI: 10.5818/06-2020
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Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Wild adult Chelonoidis becki on Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador showing a distinct bulge at the base of the neck. Subject is not in sharp focus; however, this is a rare image and no other images exist. Photograph by Cord Offerman.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

(A) Wild juvenile Chelonoidis becki showing normal uniform-length claws on the left hind foot. Photograph by Paul M. Gibbons. (B) Wild C. becki adult of advanced age showing uniform-length claws and normal pattern of wear on plantar pad, right hind foot. Photograph by Paul M. Gibbons. (C) Left hind foot of a captive C. becki in dorsal recumbency at 6 yr of age showing early signs of abnormal gait, including shortened D1 claw and abnormal wear pattern, excess wear at medial tarsal region, and a lack of wear at plantar metatarsal–phalangeal region. Photograph by Paul M. Gibbons. (D) Left hind foot of same captive C. becki in (C) in dorsal recumbency, postmortem at 10 yr of age. Note the elongated D4 and shortened D1 and D2 claws. Foot is swollen because of edema, scales in the plantar metatarsal–phalangeal region show no wear, and scales along the medial aspect of the foot and tarsal region show excess wear. Photograph by Paul M. Gibbons.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Peripheral edema in a Galapagos tortoise. Photograph by R. S. Funk and W. DeBevoise.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

Rear limb edema in a Galapagos tortoise; the whole animal was affected. Notice how the tortoise stands on its heels rather than plantigrade. Photograph by R. S. Funk and W. DeBevoise.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

Edema in a giant tortoise in the ventral neck area. Photograph by R. S. Funk and W. DeBevoise.

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Same captive C. becki as in Fig. 2, postmortem at 10 yr of age. Note the edema of the limbs and tail, as well as the increased wear of the femoral and anal scutes extending cranially onto the lateral aspect of the left abdominal scute. Photograph by Paul M. Gibbons.

Figure 7.
Figure 7.

Gross postmortem view of the 10-yr-old captive C. becki depicted in Fig. 6. Note the subcutaneous fat and edema, flocculent yellow–brown pericardial fluid, epicardial fibrinous material, and diffusely fibrotic liver capsule. Also, note the normal gubernaculum cordis stretching between the apex of the heart and pericardium.

Figure 8.
Figure 8.

Gross postmortem view of heart with open, drained pericardial sac in 10-yr-old captive C. becki depicted in Figs. 6 and 7. Note the locally extensive white fibrous regions of the epicardium and locally extensive beige fibrinous deposits on the epicardium and inner layer of the pericardium.

Figure 9.
Figure 9.

Finch reflex in a Galapagos tortoise with peripheral edema elicited by hosing off with water on a hot summer day. The finch reflex is a trancelike state in giant tortoises; the neck and limbs can be extended after gentle head, neck or front leg scratching. The finch reflex was thought to evolve from a mutualistic relationship with the Darwin finch. By the tortoise exposing itself, the finch could locate and consume ectoparasites. The jugular vein was not visible or palpable in this animal. Photograph by Thomas H. Boyer.

Figure 10.
Figure 10.

Esophagostomy tube in a Galapagos tortoise through which blenderized Mazuri tortoise diet (St. Louis, MO, USA) (with water) and other medications could be administered. Isolate tortoises with esophagostomy tubes from other large tortoises or they will bite off the tube and eat it, which they will also do themselves given the opportunity.

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