Greek tortoise

- Testudo graeca

The Greek tortoise is a representative of the genus Testudo, small to medium size. Its distribution area extends from North Africa to the Balkans and Asia., passing through the eastern Mediterranean. There are also individual populations in southern Spain and the Balearic Islands.. According to the latest discoveries, can be distinguished even 10 subspecies.

The largest adult specimens weigh more than 5 kilograms and have a carapace length of up to 35 centimeters.

The Greek tortoise adult has a dorsal shell tall and gently curved. The neck shield is narrow and elongated. Vertebral scutes are trapezoidal in shape and flare downwards. The tail shield is almost always indivisible. Due to its enormous distribution range and associated adaptation to different habitats, the coloration base of the dorsal carapace varies greatly. The spectrum ranges from light brown to olive and from sandy yellow to light gray. The scutes are black to dark brown.. With increasing age, coloration appears faded. The ventral shell it is usually dark in color and clearly thickened in the anterior region. At the end there is a slightly movable hinge.

The Paws of the Greek tortoise they have large horny scales and five claws. typical of the strong hind legs are the horny nipples found next to the tail. The hind legs they have four claws each. The tail short does not have horny nail. This is also the most important characteristic that distinguishes it from the Greek tortoise.. The differentiation of the sexes can be determined by the size of the animals and the different size of the tail.. The female turtles they are usually considerably larger than their male counterparts and have a shorter tail.

These reptiles have a life expectancy of 60 to 80 years in its natural environment. There are also animals that live longer than 100 years.

The categorization of the individual subspecies is as diverse as the inhabited habitat with different climatic influences.. Based on genetic studies, Today we describe some 10 subspecies, divided into oriental species and westerners according to habitat. All species differ in size and weight, in the coloration of the carapace and in the bulging of the rim scutes. The distribution area of the eastern species stretches from the Near East to southeastern Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. The western species They inhabit North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula..

Subspecies

For a long time it was considered that the Greek tortoise was a species with few subspecies, despite its huge distribution area on three continents with different landscapes and climatic zones. But, for some years new varieties have been discovered and described as additional subspecies (for example, Testudo graeca pallasi) or independent species (for example, Testudo graeca perses) or even genres (for example, Testudo graeca nabeulensis), but some of them are not generally recognized. Two recent studies based on genetic studies give the following 10 subspecies for the Greek tortoise.

Eastern subspecies

• Armenian tortoise, Testudo graeca armeniaca, Chkhikvadze, Bakradze 1991
  This subspecies is characterized by a low carapace shape reminiscent of Testudo horsfieldii and generally quite dark coloration with few contrasting markings.. The maximum size is 20-23 centimeters. After genetic studies, Testudo graeca pallasi, previously described as a separate subspecies, was synonymized with Testudo graeca armeniaca.

  Distribution area: western coastal area of ​​the Caspian Sea, eastern or parts of the central Caucasus in Armenia and Turkey.

• buxton's tortoise, Testudo graeca buxtoni, Boulenger 1921
  Testudo perses was included in this subspecies.

  Distribution area: Northwestern and central Iran, east caucasus.

• Asia Minor tortoise, Testudo graeca ibera, Pallas 1814
  This is the largest subspecies. Individual animals reach body sizes of more than 30 centimeters. The shape of the shell is somewhat flatter than in other representatives of the species and from round to oval.. The basic coloration of the carapace when young is olive with light black markings.. With the age, animals tend to darken, especially in the soft parts. Testudo ibera racovitzai and Testudo graeca nikolskii, previously described separately, have also been included in this subspecies.

  Biotope: Open scrub and grasslands, sparse forest edges, sandy coastal strips, steppe and semi-desert.

  Distribution area: south east europe, western Asia Minor, Russian and Georgian Black Sea coast, central caucasus.

  Name's origin: The name of the subspecies «ibera» goes back to an old name of the Kura Valley in Georgia (Iberia) and not to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain).

• Mesopotamian tortoise, Testudo graeca terrestris Purse 1775
  These animals stand out for their predominantly light coloration., sometimes surprisingly yellow ("golden greek"), shell and soft tissues. Dark pigment spots are rarely black, but rather brown and of reduced extension. The animals are very tall. The head shows a characteristic yellow marking. The maximum size is usually 16 centimeters. Included in this subspecies are Testudo ibera var. bicaudalis, Testudo floweri, Testudo graeca anamurensis and Testudo antakyensis.

  Biotope: steppe with little vegetation, matorral, dry forests.

  Distribution area: southern and eastern Asia Minor, Levantine region

• Iranian tortoise, Testudo graeca zarudnyi, Nikolsky 1896
  The elongated carapace with a serrated and enlarged posterior margin resembles the Marginated tortoise Testudo marginata. The coloration of the animals is olive to brown, the clear spotting pattern of the juvenile stage only fades later. It is a large subspecies, with carapace lengths greater than 20 centimeters.

  Biotope: Rocky hills and plains up 2500 meters above the sea level.

  Distribution area: east of iran

  Name's origin: This subspecies was named after the Russian zoologist Nikolai Alexeyevich Sarudny..

western subspecies

• Cyrenaican spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca cyrenaica, Pieh y Perälä 2002
  The cyrenaica tortoise it has narrow forelimbs and only weak defense scales. The shell is notched, with a narrow anterior opening and upwardly puckered posterior margins. The supracaudal scale is comparatively strongly incurved in males..

  Distribution area: Libya

  Name's origin: the name refers to the Cyrenaica region in northeastern Libya.

• moroccan tortoise, Testudo graeca marokkensis, Pieh y Perälä 2002.
  It has a comparatively flatter dorsal shell than the Greek tortoise. The ocher to yellow background color of the dorsal carapace contrasts with a multitude of fine lines and specks, and the shields have a dark border, partially torn, and spots on the central areola. The ventral carapace is lighter than the back., but it also has black markings. The head is dark with several pale scales., limbs mainly dark with individual lighter scales. Genetic studies have shown that the Testudo graeca lamberti is very closely related to the Testudo graeca moroccoensis and should not be considered as a separate subspecies.

  Biotope: arid landscape with steppe climate.

  Distribution area: north of morocco, on both sides of the Rif

  Name's origin: The name derives from the distribution area in Morocco.

• Greek tortoise, Testudo graeca graeca, Linnaeus 1758.
  The shell pattern consists of solid markings on a yellow background.. The vertebral scutes have a dark border and also dark spots on the areoles.. The local form described as Testudo graeca whitei genetically belongs to this subspecies.

  Distribution area: Algeria, eastern morocco, Spain (probably introduced here).

• Souss Valley tortoise, Testudo graeca soussensis, Pieh 2001
  Basic ocher dorsal carapace coloration, low contrast, fine linear markings and almost complete absence of markings on the plastron. The soft parts are brown to sandy., sometimes yellow-orange, with lighter scales, but little contrast, in the head. Juveniles show few or no markings. It's the kind of Moroccan turtle largest, with a dorsal carapace length of up to 25 cm.. The thigh spurs that are usually present in graeca animals are usually absent in the Testudo graeca soussensis, especially in the animals of the Souss valley proper.

  Biotope: Opportunistic colonization of cultivated areas, especially in thorny hedges, that offer protection and food.

  Distribution area: South of Morocco

  Name's origin: the name comes from the Souss valley, in the south of Morocco.

• Nabeul tortoise, Testudo graeca nabeulensis, Highfield 1990.
  This subspecies has highly contrasting black markings on a yellow background.. Soft tissue skin and limb defense scales are sandy to yellow, sometimes with black tips. The head has a characteristic pattern of bright yellow spots. The Nabeul tortoise is the subspecies graeca smaller. Females usually reach a dorsal carapace length of just over 13 cm and a weight of about 600 g. The males are still much lighter, with a carapace length of just under 12 cm and a mean weight of 375 g.

  Distribution area: Tunisia, eastern algeria, Sardinia and Sicily (probably introduced).

  Name's origin: the name refers to its place of origin.

Testudo graeca subspecies

Different types: Testudo graeca (left) other testudo species (right)	Different subspecies: Tg nabeulensis (left) Iberian Tg (right)	Testudo g. Ibera Heraclea, Turkey	T. g. nabeulensis variety „Sardinian", Sardinian

The great expanse of Greek tortoise has made the species adapt to a wide variety of habitats and climatic conditions. Its habitats are dry semi-deserts in the north of the African continent., mild Mediterranean climates in Greece and Turkey, and hot, dry summers with cold winters in the steppes of Asia. The tortoise lives in sandy semi-deserts, scarce forests, grasslands and can be found on the edge of swampy wetlands.

The Greek tortoise belongs to the class of reptiles and, like all representatives of this class, is cold-blooded. Body temperature is largely determined by ambient temperature and behavior adapts accordingly. when it's very hot, animals are forced to seek out shady places. If the temperature approaches 40 degrees, they burrow into the ground or seek cool cracks in rocks to prevent their bodies from overheating.

Turtles are diurnal. Thus, in the hot summer months, activities are limited to the early morning and late afternoon. In very hot steppe and desert areas, sometimes the activities stop completely and the tortoise falls into a summer sleep. For the metabolism to work, body temperatures of more than 30 degrees for a few hours a day, that are achieved by sunbathing a lot. If the ambient temperature drops below the 8 degrees, the tortoise can no longer maintain the metabolic cycle and falls into winter torpor. Thus, in the coldest regions, spends the winter buried without activity.

The Greek tortoise it is herbivorous and its diet depends on the vegetation of the corresponding habitat. The herbs, flowering plants and clover are preferred when food is plentiful. Especially the fruits with seeds, buds and young shoots, just like the flowers, are the main foods. in dry habitats, the diet also consists of low-quality plant parts and, in exceptional cases, in insects and invertebrates when food is scarce.

After waking up from hibernation, the mating season begins between February and May. Fierce fights for the female's favor may occur between males. Once the rival has been expelled, mating ritual begins. Females are bitten on the extremities and rammed with the shell to stop them. Once this is done, the act of mating takes place. The male emits the typical screeches.

In spring, the eggs are laid. Up to three clutches of eggs are laid. Females spend a lot of time choosing the best place to lay their eggs.. On average, they stand between 5 and 8 eggs per clutch. As such, the female digs a pit of about 10 centimeters deep in which it lays the eggs. Next, the pit is carefully closed. No more brood care. The incubation period varies between 60 and 100 days. At the end of summer the first young are born, whose dorsal coloration of the carapace is clearly more contrasted than that of adults. Obviously, hatching temperature plays a decisive role in the formation of the sex of turtles. There are indications that an average temperature of more than 30 degrees during the hatching process produces predominantly female animals.

State of conservation ⓘ
Vulnerable ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Greek tortoise is in danger of extinction in its countries of origin. According to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of 1976, animals cannot be officially imported into the EU without documentation. In many countries, especially in North Africa, the turtles, or their shells, are put up for sale in the markets. Anyone who tries to import these animals illegally can be prosecuted.. Within the EU, there are certain restrictions on trade in turtles. There is an obligation to demonstrate to the authorities that the animals were acquired legally. There is also an obligation to notify the sale, donation, exchange, breeding or death of a turtle.

The natural enemies of Greek tortoise in their habitat they are mainly small predators such as foxes, martens or stray dogs. But birds of prey and corvids are also a threat to reptiles. As in all species of turtles, nests are the most threatened. It is not uncommon for nests to be raided by rats, Snakes, birds and boars.

Ideally, keep the Greek tortoise in pairs or in a group. During the mating season, you have to be careful that there are many more females than males in the group, since they can develop quite aggressive behavior towards their congeners during this time. After mating, the females will look for a warm and sunny place to lay their eggs after a few weeks. The pit is dug and they are placed between 5 and 8 eggs. The process is repeated at intervals of 2-3 weeks, give place to 3-4 sunsets. Females react very sensitively to temperature fluctuations during egg laying.. So, in our latitudes, they must be compensated with aids such as a heat lamp. after sunset, eggs can be carefully removed and placed in the incubator. As far as possible, you should not change your position. Approximately between 65 and 90 days after laying, the first pups are born. Feeding is done with the same foods as for adult animals.

The Greek tortoise should be kept in an outdoor enclosure in summer. It must be located in a sunny place, because animals need the warm rays of the sun for digestion to work, among other things. Of course, there should be a place to water and hiding places such as roots or bushes should be provided. Pine soil or peat mixed with sand are suitable as a substrate. Small patches of meadow with some grasses are also a source of food for the turtles.. In their natural habitats, the tortoise hibernates in hibernation. Possibilities must be created in the enclosure so that, even in the coldest local weather, the tortoise can make a burrow and thus survive the winter. Soil must be frost free.

all wild herbs, as well as clover, Dandelion, the hibiscus and all the flowering plants, from pansies to lilies, serve as food. In no case should it be fed with animal products, noodles or pasta. These damage the digestive system of animals and can be deadly. Fruit should be an absolute exception on the menu. If there is a sufficient supply of natural foods, you can do without the addition of vitamins.

Keeping this species of tortoise in a species-appropriate manner requires sufficient space. The outer enclosure must be surrounded by a border of 40 height cm. Young animals must also be protected from smaller predators, like martens or foxes, and the largest birds. The easiest way to do this is with a metal mesh cover over the enclosure. Representatives of the eastern subspecies are especially suitable for conservation. The needs of African species are much greater in terms of warmth and susceptibility to stress and disease. The Greek tortoise It is one of the most common species of turtles..

The price of a "Greek tortoise" at the exotic animal market, bred in captivity, ranges between 100 – 160 EUR, depending on its size.

1. Spur-thighed tortoise (English).
2. Tortue grecque (French).
3. Testudo graeca (German).
4. Testudo graeca (Portuguese).
5. Tortuga griega (español).