Believe it or not AH had the closest reason I've ever found. I cannot find the explanation and did not save it.
In a nutshell... the scutes constrain the bone of the carapace. If the scutes cannot grow properly the bone cannot grow properly. The scutes act as a girdle. It doesn't really make sense when you think of the bone being so much bigger and stronger than the scutes... but think of a string or a plastic soda carrier being restrained around a bone... it restricts growth.
Ahhh... you hit a very key ponit... all chelonians need the very same basic requirements. The key word is basic. Chelonians adapt to meet those basic requirements. Current technology allows to provide those basic needs so the tortoise does not need those adaptations.
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Originally Posted by Luckyjim
Can't see how humidity would affect bone development directly.
But maybe providing decent humidity for those species that need it (stars, redfoots, kinixys etc) just optimises husbandry...so, all other things being in place (heat, UV, correct balanced diet) the tortoise develops more naturally.
Can't apply to meds or desert torts, obviously, where recent ersearch shows that even micro-climates aren't going to be all that humid. Certainly not the 80-100% that some people advocate aiming for for hatchlings.
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