Submission (#6325) Approved

The Ridgestar Turtle is a majestic beast that spends its days on the sandy shores of Palu’au. Known for their brightly colored ridges that span the center of the bottom of their shell in star-like patterns, this turtle is known for being particularly vicious. They use the patterns on their stomach to confuse predators and lure in prey, creating optical illusions as they flex their shell. They are able to completely retract within their shell when threatened, and unlike most species of turtles, they lay clutches of 5 eggs or less directly in the sand in the water.

It isn’t uncommon to see Ridgestar Turtles wandering the sandy beaches of Palu’au and coming directly up to Elnin, as they do not see them as predators. As well, they are known for taking bites out of wandering surfboards in the clear ocean water from below the depths. One might even see these turtles resting in the shade of swaying palm trees that line the shores. Of course, though, the Palu’au Eldertree in its leafy glory is the biggest point of congregation for Ridgestar Turtles. They tend to wander around the large palm tree, biting notches into the flaky wood as part of what researchers believe to be a turtle pilgrimage of sorts.

Mating season for these turtles occurs once a year. A male Ridgestar Turtle will find the best coconut it can, and roll it towards the female Ridgestar Turtle. If the suit is accepted, the two will open up and share the insides of the coconut. Many Elnin find this coconut tradition especially sweet, so many restaurants in the region have specialty drinks and food based on this ritual. Baby Ridgestar Turtles are born without any intricate markings, as they develop over time until they reach their peak maturity. Although some may be tempted to take one of these turtles as a pet, they have horrid temperament, and prefer to spend their days lazing about in the water, snacking on small shellfish.