Figure 1
From: Predation impact on threatened spur-thighed tortoises by golden eagles when main prey is scarce
Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos have developed an elaborate technique to handle non-juvenile, hard-carapaced tortoises, consisting of lifting the tortoise and dropping it onto rocks to break open the hard shell. (A) A golden eagle nest (adult and juvenile individuals) with spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca remains in SE Spain (photo: Mario León-Ortega). (B) Broken carapaces of spur-thighed tortoise below a golden eagle nest in SE Spain (photo: Andrés Giménez). (C) A golden eagle pellet, consisting entirely of spur-thighed tortoise remains, from an eagle roost in SE Spain (photo: Marcos Moleón).
