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Indian Star Tortoise
Burmese Star Tortoise
Other Starred Tortoises
Angulate Tortoise
Misc. Pages
Star Tortoise books...
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Star Tortoise Books
Literary Stars

Books about Stars!
I have most of these books in my personal library. If you know any other good Star tortoise related books to add to this list, let me know. These books are listed here in no particular order. Click on the book titles for full descriptions.
Star Tortoise Books: |
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Star Tortoises: The Natural History, Captive Care, and Breeding of Geochelone elegans
- Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group Turtles of the World Series, Nr 10
- by Jerry D. Fife
- Living Art Publishing, 2007
- the only US book about Star tortoises
- a must have for any Star fancier
- covers all aspects of Star care
- color photos, 116 pages
- ISBN-10: 0978755626
- ISBN-13: 978-0978755621
- usually, this book is also available on ebay
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The Biology and Status of the Star Tortoise (Geochelone Elegans, Schoepff, 1795) in Sri Lanka
- by
Anslem de Silva
- A.M.P. Print Shop, Sri Lanka, 2003
- 100 pages, mostly b/w with some color photos
- available at nhbs.com, UK
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Tortoise Books: |
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Reptiles of British India
- by Albrecht Carl Günther
- VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller e.K.
- reprint Apr 2008, 540 pages
- originally published in 1864
- excellent observations of the Starred Tortoise from the early 1830's
- ISBN-10: 3836440172
- ISBN-13: 978-3836440172
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Turtles: Proceedings: International Turtle & Tortoise Symposium, Vienna 2002
- by H. Artner, B. Farkas, V. Loehr
- Edition Chimaira, Mar 2006
- care articles for Indian Star (extensive), Radiated, Tent tortoises, Leopards, and many more
- 621 glossy pages, color photos
- ISBN-10: 393061278X
- ISBN-13: 978-3930612789
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Tortoises: A Beginner's Guide to Tortoise Care
- by Andrew & Nadine Highfield
- TFH, Feb 2009
- informative book for all new and prospective tortoise owners
- includes the Indian Star tortoise
- color photos, 64 pages
- ISBN-10: 0793806747
- ISBN-13: 978-0793806744
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Terralog: Turtles of the World, Vol 4, East and South Asia
- by Holger Vetter, Peter Paul Van Dijk
- Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, May 2006
- 600 color photos, distribution maps
- 160 pages
- ISBN-10: 3936027927
- ISBN-13: 978-3936027921
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Popular Tortoises
- by Phillippe De Vosjoli
- Advanced Vivarium Systems, 2003
- includes a brief Indian Star tortoise care sheet, 70 pages
- mostly b/w photos
- ISBN-10: 1882770668
- ISBN-13: 978-1882770663
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The Pet Owner's Guide to the Tortoise
- by Simon J. Girling
- Ringpress Books, 2003
- includes a brief description of the Indian Star tortoise
- color photos, 80 pages
- ISBN-10: 1860541194
- ISBN-13: 978-1860541193
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Tortoises and Box Turtles Complete Owner's Manual
- by Hartmut Wilke
- Barrons, 2000
- includes the Indian Star tortoise
- introductory profiles of tortoises with photos, 64 pages
- ISBN-10: 0764111817
- ISBN-13: 978-0764111815
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Tortoises, Terrapins & Turtles of Africa
- by Bill Branch
- Struik Publishers, 2008
- several beautiful star-patterned tortoises are native to Africa
- includes Tent tortoises, Geometric tortoises, Serrated tortoises
- 128 glossy pages, color photos
- ISBN-10: 1770074635
- ISBN-13: 978-1770074637
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The Southern African Tortoise Book
- by Richard C. Boycott, Ortwin Bourquin
- O. Bourquin, 2nd revised ed., 2000
- includes star-patterned Tent, Serrated, and Geometric tortoises
- 228 pages, b/w and color photos
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 0620265361
- ISBN-13: 978-0620265362
- 1st edition, 1988
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Turtles of the World
- by Franck Bonin, Bernard Devaux, Alain Dupré, Peter Pritchard
- The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006
- includes the Indian Star tortoise, Burmese Star, Radiated, Geometric, Serrated, Tent, Spider, Pancake
- nearly 300 species of turtles, color photos and maps, 416 pages
- ISBN-10: 0801884969
- SBN-13: 978-0801884962
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The Guide to Owning a Tortoise
- by Jerry G. Walls
- TFH Publications, 1996
- includes Indian Star tortoise, Burmese Star tortoise, Radiated tortoise
- color photos, 64 pages
- ISBN-10: 0793820707
- ISBN-13: 978-0793820702
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Turtle & Tortoises for Dummies
- by Liz Palika
- Hungry Minds, 2001
- includes Indian Star tortoise, Burmese Star tortoise, Radiated tortoise, Geometric tortoise
- introduction to tortoises, mostly text and drawings, some color photos, newspaper type paper, 291 pages
- ISBN-10: 0764553135
- ISBN-13: 978-0764553134
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Practical Encyclopedia of Keeping and Breeding Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles
- by A. C. Highfield
- Krieger Publishing Company, 1996
- first half of the 295 pages covers general care, second half is species specific info including the Indian Star tortoise
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 1873943067
- ISBN-13: 978-1873943069
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Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins: Survivors in Armor
- by Ronald Orenstein
- Firefly Books, 2001
- includes some info on Geometric, Tent, Indian Star, Burmese Star, and Radiated tortoises
- large hardcover book, color photos, 308 pages, limited availability
- ISBN-10: 155209605X
- ISBN-13: 978-1552096055
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Turtles & Tortoises of Myanmar
- by Win Maung, Win Ko Ko
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2002
- description and a color painting of each species
- text in English and Burmese
- limited availability, 1st printing was only 1,000 copies
- 94 pages
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Colour Guide to the Turtles & Tortoises of the Indian Subcontinent
- by Indraneil Das
- R & A Publishing Limited, 1991
- descriptions, distribution, natural history, status and conservation for all 41 valid species and subspecies
- 133 pages
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 1872688020
- ISBN-13: 978-1872688022
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Smithsonian Handbooks: Reptiles and Amphibians
- by Tim Halliday, Mark O'Shea, Jonathan Metcalf
- DK Publishing, 2002
- recognition guide with color photos
- includes the Indian Star tortoise
- great book for kids, too
- 256 pages
- ISBN-10: 0789493934
- ISBN-13: 978-0789493934
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The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians
- by J. C. Daniel
- Oxford University Press, 2002
- includes the Indian Star tortoise
- 252 pages
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 0195660994
- ISBN-13: 978-0195660999
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Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of India
- by Indraneil Das
- Ralph Curtis Books, 2002
- pocket guide with color photos
- includes the Indian Star tortoise
- 144 pages
- ISBN-10: 0883590565
- ISBN-13: 979-0883590569
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Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Sri Lanka
- by Indraneil Das, Anslem de Silva
- Ralph Curtis Books, 2005
- pocket guide with color photos
- includes the Star tortoise
- 144 pages
- ISBN-10: 0883590581
- ISBN-13: 978-0883590584
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Fauna of India, Reptilia, Testudines and Crocodilians, Vol 1
- by R. C. Sharma
- Zoological Survey of India, 1998
- covers India and adjacent countries
- includes the Indian and Burmese Star tortoises
- 196 pages
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 818587469 (1998)
- ISBN-10: 8185874654 (reprint 2002)
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Turtles and Tortoises of India
- by Indraneil Das
- World Wildlife Fund of India, Oxford University Press, 1998
- reprint 2000
- 34 color plates and line illustrations
- 186 pages
- limited availability
- ISBN-10: 0195637275
- ISBN-13: 978-0195637274
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The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I. - Loricata, Testudines
- by Malcolm A. Smith
- Taylor & Francis, London, 1933
- Today & Tomorrow's Printers & Publishers, New Delhi, reprint 1995
- part of the Fauna of British India series
- great description of the Indian Star, also includes the Burmese Star
- one of the most referenced books about Indian Star tortoises
- limited availability, but you might find some copies here
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Reptilia And Batrachia: The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma (1890)
- by George A. Boulenger
- Kessinger Publishing, 2008
- ISBN-10: 0548968489
- ISBN-13: 978-0548968482
The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Reptilia and Batrachia
- by George A. Boulenger
- Taylor & Francis, 1890
- you can read this book online at Internet Archives
- Testudo elegans pp. 21-22 with a black-and-white drawing
- Testudo platynota p. 22
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Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles Drawn from Life
- by James de Carle Sowerby & Edward Lear
- H. Sotheran, J. Baer & Co, 1872
- you can read this book online at the Biodiversity Heritage Library
- lovely color plates, including Indian Stars, Radiateds, and Geometric tortoises
- pdf p. 13 text and p. 75 illustration for Testudo actinodes (Indian Star)
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The Royal Natural History: Reptiles, amphibians, fishes, the lowest vertebrates and their allies
- by Richard Lydekker
- F. Warne, 1896
- you can read this book at google books, chapter III is about turtles and tortoises, including the 'Elegant Tortoise' (T. elegans)
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Historia testudinum iconibus illustrata
- by Ioannis Davidis Schoepff (Johann David Schöpff)
- Erlangae, 1792
- you can read this book online at Biodiversity HL or Humboldt Uni
- Testudo elegans pp. 111-113 and colorplate XXV
- Testudo geometrica pp. 49-51 and colorplate X
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Veterinary Medicine Books: |
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Understanding Reptile Parasites, 2nd ed
- by Roger Klingenberg DVM
- Advanced Vivarium Systems, 2007
- prevention and treatment of internal and external parasites
- a popular and highly acclaimed guide, yet inexpensive
- ISBN-10: 1882770900
- ISBN-13: 978-1882770908
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Parasitology in Snakes, Lizards and Chelonians: A Husbandry Guide
- by Paul Schneller, Nikola Pantchev
- Edition Chimaira / Serpent's Tale NHBD, Aug 2008
- parasites, detection, eradication
- ISBN-10: 3899734734
- ISBN-13: 978-3899734737
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Pills For Pets: The A to Z Guide to Drugs and Medications for Your Animal Companion
- by Debra Eldredge DVM
- Citadel, 2003
- drug info, dosing, and more
- includes turtles and tortoises
- ISBN-10: 0806524367
- ISBN-13: 978-0806524368
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Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles
- by Stuart McArthur, Roger Wilkinson, Jean Meyer
- Wiley-Blackwell, 2004
- comprehensive veterinary text on chelonians for vets and advanced tortoise keepers, 600 pages
- ISBN-10: 1405108894
- ISBN-13: 978-1405108898
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Reptile Medicine and Surgery
- by Douglas R. Mader MS DVM
- Saunders, 2nd edition, 2006
- all about chelonian care, health, and diseases; excellent clinical reference
- glossy pages and color photos; 1,264 pages
- ISBN-10: 072169327X
- ISBN-13: 978-0721693279
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Books in Preparation: |
coming
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A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia
- by Indraneil Das
- includes Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Bali
- every recognized species is desribed, 700 major species portrayed by top wildlife artists, 376 pages
- due 2010
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coming
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Veterinary Management of Tortoises and Turtles (2nd ed)
- by Stuart McArthur
- practical guide on tortoise and turtle care for veterinarians
- 2nd edition due 2012
- 1st edition, 1996 (limited availability)
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Recent Magazines: |
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Radiata
- German Herpetological Society's Chelonian Group journal
- German and English editions
- 4-2009 issue has articles about Indian Star tortoises, in captivity and in the wild
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Reptiles
- covers all reptile and amphibian species, including tortoises
- Indian Star tortoises were recently featured in Jan 2008 and Sep 2009 issues
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