When measuring a tortoise, what you want to measure is called the "Straight Carapace Length" or SCL. Following is an example of how to do this. Personally I use a caliper and measure in centimeters. But you can measure in inches as well.
click on the photo to view it full size
Step1:
Put a ruler up against a wall.
Step 2:
put the tortoise on the ruler with the front of the shell
against the wall.
Step3:
Put a board
against the back of the tortoise perpendicular to the ruler.
Step 4.
Remove the tortoise and read the measurement. This one is 5 1/8"
long.
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