{"id":19674,"date":"2015-03-25T20:35:48","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T01:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/?p=19674"},"modified":"2025-09-11T11:11:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T16:11:55","slug":"basic-information-sheet-mediterranean-tortoises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-sheet-mediterranean-tortoises\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Mediterranean Tortoises"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mediterranean Tortoises (Genus Testudo<\/em>)<\/h1>\n
\"Mediterranean<\/a>

Bronze statue of \u2018Testudo\u2019, the University of Maryland mascot. Photo credit: Mark Zimmerman via Flickr Creative Commons<\/small><\/p><\/div>\n

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Natural history<\/h2>\n

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\nMediterranean tortoises<\/a> are native to arid regions in Mediterranean Europe, Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Most Testudo species are primarily herbivorous and they practice brumation (or hibernation) in the wild.
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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Reptilia<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Chelonia\/Testudines<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Testudinidae<\/em><\/p>\n

Genus<\/strong>: Testudo<\/em><\/p>\n

Testudo marginata<\/em> (Marginated tortoise<\/a>)<\/p>\n

T. weissingeri<\/em>, originally classified as a dwarf population or subspecies of T. marginata<\/p>\n

T. horsfieldii<\/em> (Russian tortoise<\/a>)<\/p>\n

T. graeca<\/em> (Greek spur-thighed tortoise<\/a>) not to be confused with the spurred tortoise, Geochelone sulcata<\/em><\/p>\n

T. ibera<\/em> (Greek spur-thighed tortoise<\/a>)<\/p>\n

T. hermanni<\/em> (Hermann\u2019s tortoise<\/a>)<\/p>\n

T. kleinmanni<\/em> (Egyptian tortoise<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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Physical description<\/h2>\n

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\n\"Hermann\u2019s<\/a> The members of genus Testudo<\/em> are medium-sized tortoises. Various features of the shell, such as the supracaudal scute (#6 left<\/em>), tail, and thighs can be used to distinguish species (see table below<\/em>). Photo credit: Titimaster via Wikimedia Commons Click image to enlarge<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Some distinguishing characteristics of Mediterranean tortoise species commonly seen in the pet trade<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<\/td>\nEgyptian tortoise<\/a><\/b><\/td>\nRussian tortoise<\/a><\/b><\/td>\nHermann\u2019s tortoise<\/a><\/b><\/td>\nGreek tortoise<\/a><\/b><\/td>\nMarginated tortoise<\/a><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Straight carapace length (cm)<\/td>\n10-12<\/small><\/td>\n12-20<\/small><\/td>\n13-20<\/small><\/td>\n18-21 Testudo (graeca) ibera<\/i>
\n13-16 T. g. graeca<\/i><\/small><\/td>\n		25-40<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shell shape<\/td>\nHigh domed<\/small><\/td>\nBroad, rounded, dorsoventrally flattened, sometimes with a dorsal ridge<\/small><\/td>\nArched, rounded<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\nOblong, domed<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carapace color<\/td>\nUsually pale, dull yellow but can range from near gray to ivory to rich gold<\/small><\/td>\nGreen-brown to black fading to yellow between scutes<\/small><\/td>\nYellow with black<\/small><\/td>\nBrown-yellow with black<\/small><\/td>\nPale yellow on black<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carapacial scutes<\/td>\nSupracaudal scute is flared<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\nUsually possess a divided supracaudal scutes<\/small><\/td>\nUndivided supracaudal scute<\/small><\/td>\nSupracaudal and posterior marginal scutes are prominently flared<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plastron<\/td>\nPale yellow with two dark, clearly marked triangular notches or chevrons<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foreleg<\/td>\nFive toes on forefeet<\/small><\/p>\n

Three longitudinal rows of large scales on anterior surface of forelimb<\/td>\n

Four toes on forefeet<\/small><\/td>\nFive toes on forefeet<\/small><\/td>\nFive toes on forefeet<\/small><\/td>\nFive toes on forefeet<\/small><\/p>\n

Four or five longitudinal rows of large scales on anterior surface of forelimb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Thigh<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTubercles or enlarged scales on thighs<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\nEnlarged tubercles on medial thighs<\/small><\/td>\nUSUALLY lack spurs on thighs<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tail<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHorny claw or spur on end of tail<\/small><\/td>\nHorny claw or spur on end of tail<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\nUSUALLY lack spur on tail<\/small><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Head<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMost Testudo h. hermanni<\/i> have a characteristic yellow fleck on the cheek<\/small><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Sexual dimorphism<\/h2>\n

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Although female Mediterranean tortoises display slight mobility of the caudal plastron, sex determination is usually based on:<\/p>\n