Using external background resources, find the most interesting or unusual example of tortoise or turtle behaviour that you can, and discuss its possible causes and implications in not more than 700 words.

A behaviour present in most chelonians is basking, this involves the sticking out of the head and limbs as if sunbathing, a classic basking position.

For tortoises and turtles, both in the wild and in captivity, heat and sunlight are essential for health. Chelonians are exothermic therefore rely upon external heat to regulate their body temperature. Basking allows the chelonian to quickly raise its body temperature and assists in staving off respiratory ailments and ridding the creatures of external parasites such as leeches. In aquatic and semi aquatic turtles basking and drying also lessen the possibility of fungus and water-borne bacterial infections.

First thing in the morning my own African Spurred Tortoise (Geochelone Sulcata) emerges from his overnight box to rest under the heat lamp on the basking site in order to raise his internal body temperature. Once warmed sufficiently he will then move off in search of food. ...