Common tortoise

Common tortoise
Photographed in Greece
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Testudo
Species:	T. graeca
Binomial name
Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758
Note allopatric ranges of "Maghreb" (T. g. graeca) and "Greek" (T. g. ibera) populations
Synonyms[1]
T. g. graeca Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 Testudo pusilla Linnaeus, 1758 Chersine pusilla — Merrem, 1820 Testudo mauritanica A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Testudo mauritonica Kercado, 1835 (ex errore) Testudo whitei Bennett, 1836 Peltastes mauritanicus — Gray, 1873 Testudo graeca graeca — Mertens, 1946 Testudo gracea Nutaphand, 1979 (ex errore) Testudo whitie Highfield & Martin, 1989 (ex errore) Furculachelys whitei — Highfield, 1990 Testudo graeca sarda Ballasina, 1995 (nomen nudum) Testudo graeca whitei — Artner, 1996 T. g. anamurensis Testudo graeca anamurensis Weissinger, 1987 Testudo ibera anamurensis — Highfield, 1990 Testudo terrestris anamurensis — David, 1994 Testudo anamurensis — Vetter, 2002 Testudo graeca amurensis Ferri, 2002 (ex errore) T. g. antakyensis Testudo antakyensis Perälä, 1996 Testudo graeca antakyensis — Zwartepoorte, 2000 Testudo terrestris antakyensis — Bour, 2002 Testudo ibera antakyensis — Artner, 2003 T. g. armeniaca Testudo graeca armeniaca Chkhikvadze, 1989 (nomen nudum) Testudo graeca armeniaca Chkhikvadze & Bakradze, 1991 Testudo graeca armaniaca Chkhikvadze & Bakradze, 1991 (ex errore) Testudo armeniaca — Vetter, 2002 Testudo terrestris armeniaca — Bour, 2002 T. g. buxtoni ? Testudo ecaudata Pallas, 1814 Testudo buxtoni Boulenger, 1921 Testudo terrestris buxtoni — Bour, 2002 Testudo ibera buxtoni — Artner, 2003 T. g. cyrenaica Testudo graeca cyrenaica Pieh & Perälä, 2002 Testudo cyrenaica — Vetter, 2002 Testudo cyrenaika Stettner, 2004 (ex errore) T. g. floweri Testudo floweri Bodenheimer, 1935 Testudo graeca floweri — Mertens, 1946 Testudo terrestris floweri — David, 1994 Testudo ibera floweri — Artner, 2003 T. g. ibera Testudo ibera Pallas, 1814 Chersus iberus — Brandt, 1852 Testudo iberia Blyth, 1853 (ex errore) Medaestia ibera — Wussow, 1916 Testudo ibera racovitzai Călinescu, 1931 Testudo graeca ibera — Mertens, 1946 Testudo ibera ibera — Gmira, 1993 Testudo terrestris ibera — David, 1994 T. g. lamberti Testudo graeca lamberti Pieh & Perälä, 2004 Testudo lamberti — Perälä, 2004 T. g. marokkensis Testudo graeca marokkensis Pieh & Perälä, 2004 Testudo marokkensis — Perälä, 2004 T. g. nabeulensis ? Testudo flavominimaralis Highfield & Martin, 1989 Furculachelys nabeulensis Highfield, 1990 Testudo nabeulensis — Welch, 1994 ? Testudo graeca flavominimaralis — Artner, 1996 Testudo graeca nabeulensis — Artner, 1996 T. g. nikolskii Testudo graeca nikolskii Chkhikvadze & Tuniyev, 1986 Testudo ibera nikolskii — Highfield, 1990 Testudo terrestris nikolskii — David, 1994 Testudo graeca niiolskii Paull, 1997 (ex errore) Testudo nikolskii — Vetter, 2002 T. g. pallasi Testudo graeca pallasi Chkhikvadze, 1989 (nomen nudum) Testudo graeca pallasi Chkhikvadze & Bakradze, 2002 Testudo pallasi — Danilov & Milto, 2004 T. g. perses Testudo perses Perälä, 2002 Testudo ibera perses — Artner, 2003 T. g. soussensis Testudo graeca soussensis Pieh, 2001 Testudo soussensis — Vetter, 2002 T. g. terrestris Testudo terrestris Forsskål, 1775 ? Testudo zolhafa Forsskål, 1831 (nomen nudum) ? Testudo zolkafa Forsskål, 1831 (nomen nudum) ? Testudo zohalfa Forsskål, 1835 (nomen nudum) Testudo graeca terrestris — Wermuth, 1958 Testudo terrestris terrestris — David, 1994 Testudo ibera terrestris — Artner, 2003 T. g. zarudnyi Testudo zarudnyi Nikolsky, 1896 Testudo graeca zarudnyi — Mertens, 1946 Testudo ibera zarudnyi — Gmira, 1993 Testudo terrestris zarudnyi — David, 1994

The common tortoise (Testudo graeca), also known commonly as the Greek tortoise, or the spur-thighed tortoise,^[2] is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. Testudo graeca is one of five species of Mediterranean tortoises (genera Testudo and Agrionemys). The other four species are Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni ), the Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni ), the marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata), and the Russian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii ). The common tortoise is a very long-lived animal, achieving a lifespan of upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports of up to 200 years.^[3]

Geographic range

The common tortoise's geographic range includes North Africa, southern Europe, and Southwest Asia. It is prevalent in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (from Anapa, Russia, to Sukhumi, Abkhazia, to the South), as well as in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Characteristics

The Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca ibera) is often confused with Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni ). However, notable differences enable them to be distinguished.

Testudo graeca ibera

Testudo graeca, male

Subspecies

Testudo graeca, 4 years

The division of the common tortoise into subspecies is difficult and confusing. Given the huge range of over three continents, the various terrains, climates, and biotopes have produced a huge number of varieties, with new subspecies constantly being discovered. Currently, at least 20 subspecies are published:

• T. g. graeca (North Africa and South Spain)
• T. g. soussensis (South Morocco)
• T. g. marokkensis (North Morocco)
• T. g. nabeulensis - Tunisian tortoise (Tunisia)
• T. g. cyrenaica (Libya)
• T. g. ibera (Turkey)
• T. g. armeniaca - Armenian tortoise (Armenia)
• T. g. buxtoni (Caspian Sea)
• T. g. terrestris (Israel/Lebanon)
• T. g. zarudnyi (Iran/Azerbaijan)
• T. g. whitei (Algeria)

This incomplete listing shows the problems in the division of the species into subspecies. The differences in form are primarily in size and weight, as well as coloration, which ranges from dark brown to bright yellow, and the types of flecks, ranging from solid colors to many spots. Also, the bending-up of the edges of the carapace ranges from minimal to pronounced. So as not to become lost in the number of subspecies, recently a few tortoises previously classified as Testudo graeca have been assigned to different species, or even different genera.

The genetic richness of Testudo graeca is also shown in its crossbreeding. Tortoises of different form groups often mate, producing offspring with widely differing shapes and color. Perhaps the best means of identification for the future is simply the place of origin.

The smallest, and perhaps the prettiest, of the subspecies, is the Tunisian tortoise. It has a particularly bright and striking coloration. However, these are also the most sensitive tortoises of the species, so they cannot be kept outdoors in temperate climates, as cold and rainy summers quickly cause the animals to become ill. They are also incapable of long hibernation.

At the other extreme, animals from northeastern Turkey are very robust, such as Hermann's tortoise. The largest specimens come from Bulgaria. Specimens of 7 kilograms (15 lb) have been reported. In comparison, the Tunisian tortoise has a maximum weight of 0.7 kg (1.5 lb). Testudo graeca is also closely related to the marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata). The two species can interbreed, producing offspring capable of reproduction.

Sexing

Males of T. graeca differ from females in six main points. Firstly, they are generally smaller. Their tails are longer than females and taper to a point evenly, and the cloacal opening is farther from the base of the tail. The underside is somewhat curved, while females have a flat shell on the underside. The rear portion of a male's carapace is wider than it is long. Finally, the posterior plates of the carapace often flange outward.

Mating and reproduction

Tunisian tortoise

T. g. ibera

T. graeca

In T. graeca, immediately after waking from hibernation, the mating instinct starts up. The males follow the females with great interest, encircling them, biting them in the limbs, ramming them, and trying to mount them. During copulation, the male opens his mouth, showing his red tongue and making squeaking sounds.

During mating, the female stands still, bracing herself with her front legs, moving the front part of her body to the left and right in the same rhythm as the male's cries. One successful mating will allow the female to lay eggs multiple times. When breeding in captivity, the pairs of females and males must be kept separate. If multiple males are in a pen, one takes on a dominant role and will try to mate with the other males in the pen. If more males than females are in a pen, the males might kill each other to mate with the female.

One or two weeks before egg-laying, the animals become notably agitated, moving around to smell and dig in the soil, even tasting it, before choosing the ideal spot to lay the eggs. One or two days before egg-laying, the female takes on an aggressive, dominant behavior, mounting another animal as for copulation and making the same squeaking sound the male produces during copulation. The purpose of this behavior is to produce respect in the tortoise community so that the female will not be disturbed by the others during egg laying. Further details of egg-laying behavior are the same as those detailed for the marginated tortoise.

Trade

The common tortoise is commonly traded as a pet, despite the illegality of this trade . In source countries such as Morocco, this can lead to an unsustainable removal of wild individuals for the local pet trade and for export. There are also welfare concerns with this trade as the animals are not properly housed when being sold.^[4]

Food

In the first instance always get an expert reptile breeder, vet or shop to help you understand what to feed your tortoise. The common tortoise loves dandelion leaves and other leafy plants. However, although they also enjoy eating lettuce, it is not recommended to them due to having a lack of nutrients that the tortoise needs to survive.^[5]

See also

• List of reptiles of Italy
• Mediterranean tortoise
• Timothy (tortoise)

Source

• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Testudo graeca". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 1996: e.T21646A9305693. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T21646A9305693.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1cd v2.3)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Testudo graeca.

• European Tortoises. (in German).
• Broasca Testoasa Greaca - Testudo graeca. (in Romanian).