Land tortoises

Land tortoises were once common in southern Eriador and western Gondor, particularly in the Gwathló basin. Unfortunately, they are extremely tasty and nutritious, so they are favored by Eriadoran hunters and are nearly extinct. Their beautiful green and grey shells are now exceptionally rare. Prized for their value as armor (the shell makes excellent reinforcement) and (when ground) as a source of medicine to combat blood diseases and ailments, a land tortoise shell can bring up to two hundred gold pieces on the open market. Detailed Description

Very slow and inoffensive, the land tortoise's primary defense is its size. The average specimen is five feet long and three high, weighing about three hundred pounds. A few older tortoises, those with ages over three hundred years, have reached six feet in length and weigh over a quarter ton.

In the case of an attack, land tortoises will retreat until cornered. If confronted by an overwhelming number of foes, they will then ground themselves and pull into their shells. If it appears that they contest the attack, though, they may lash out with their necks, biting the attackers with their hard, sharp beaks.

Land tortoises feed on nearly every type of vegetation and often roam into the highlands in search of richer grass or shrubs. They mate at any time, since the males are twice as large as the females. Female tortoises then dig holes along river banks or on the seashore, laying their (11-20) eggs and covering them with moist soil that hardens in the sun and incubates the young. These caches are abandoned, so the hatchlings are forced to dig their way out and survive on their own.