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These photos are all taken in exactly the same spot. One set in early April, the last set today (30 July). They dramatically reveal the changes in vegetation.

APRIL






JULY 30






Now for something EXTREMELY interesting...

amazing Andy
BUT what are the seeds that they have eaten
Give us a clue

Anthyllis cytisoides maybe?

Anyway, they seem to digest the pod but not the seeds, and I bet that increases their chances to germinate. It is well documented in several tortoise species their role in the dispersal on many plants. I have seen faeces containing seeds even in Spring.

Regards

I think you are right Marcos:

http://web.gg.qub.ac.uk/people/staff/wh ... 2000t.html

http://www.almediam.org/Equipo_Filabres ... _p073.html

It says donkeys and mules also like it. Other papers support the view that passing through the digestive tract improves germination, also.

The tortoises definitely like it. We found numerous droppings containing these seeds..

I saw plants with little yellow flowers and wondered if they were broom, but obviously this is what they were. Any chance of posting some seeds back to the UK

Naughty Sue for asking, they may get confiscated at customs
I am going to do a search on the web and see if I can get any.

Andy I see that they are part of the pea family so do you think that it may be high in protein
Just a thought

All seeds are high in protein, however, I'd suspect they are using these primarily to generate metabolic water:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_water

If you have been at one of my lectures, you will remember I talk about this quite a bit. It is very important to many desert mammals and reptiles.

Now we are in the EU Linda there is no problem about plants or seeds, we could go and dig up Andys garden and bring it back in a truck

They also eat their leaves during spring. I have tried to put that plant in my enclosures (I love it) but it is impossible, they devour it. I have two of them in pots so I can move them to the enclosure once they are bigger and the tortoises just reach the lower leaves. The native plants nursery I told you about only sell baby plants so... I have to be patient (0.40€ each by the way).

It is one of the dominant shrubs in certain tortoise habitats so I guess It could be an important source of food, especially in years with low rainfall and, as a consecuence, low availability of annuals. (If they can reach the leaves of course )







Regards