Largest red-footed tortoise

The largest known specimen of the red-footed tortoise Chelonoidis carbonaria, which originated in Paraguay, was 60 cm long, and weighed over 28 kg. Native to northern South America, this species is morphologically diverse, exhibiting gender, regional and individual variations in colour, shell shape and minor anatomical characteristics, but it is not known at present whether extra-large specimens are the result of diet availability, genetic issues, longevity or other possible influencing factors.

Interestingly, genetic analyses have revealed the existence of no fewer than five distinct geographically linked genotypes within this species. These are known respectively as the northeastern variant, the northwestern variant, the northern variant, the southern variant and the eastern variant.