Mycophagy in the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus): feeding trial experiments at Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

A feeding trial experiment revealed that yellow-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus) in Tijuca National Park, Brazil, actively consume a diverse range of macrofungi. The study, conducted by Refauna Association and researchers from the University of Rio de Janeiro, offered 21 basidiomycete specimens representing 13 taxa to seven tortoises. Only one individual rejected the mushrooms entirely, while ten species were consumed or partially accepted. This finding highlights the importance of mycophagy in the diet of this threatened species, particularly in fragmented Atlantic Forest habitats like Tijuca National Park. The study also underscores the need for further research to identify the specific fungal species consumed by tortoises and their nutritional contributions.

Trierveiler-Pereira, L., Silva, E. d. S., Starling-Manne, C., & Baltazar, J. M. (2025). Mycophagy in the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus): feeding trial experiments at Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Lilloa, 97–109. https://doi.org/10.30550/j.lil/2073