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Testudo graeca

Spur-thighed tortoise
Tortoise.spur-thighed.arp.750pix.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Testudo
Species: T. graeca
Binomial name
Testudo graeca
Linnaeus, 1758
Areale T. graeca3.jpg
Note allopatric ranges of "Maghreb" (T. g. graeca) and "Greek" (T. g. ibera) populations
Synonyms
T. g. graeca
  • Testudo pusilla Linnaeus, 1758
  • Chersine pusilla Merrem, 1820
  • Testudo mauritanica 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 spur-thighed tortoise (or Greek tortoise) (Testudo graeca) is one of five species of Mediterranean tortoise (genus Testudo, family Testudinidae). The other four species are the Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni), Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii), Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni), and marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata). The spur-thighed tortoise is a very long lived animal, achieving a lifespan of upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports of up to 200 years.

The spur-thighed tortoise's habitat is North Africa, southern Europe, and southwest Asia. It is prevalent in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (from Russia Anapa to Abkhazia Sukhumi to the south), as well as in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

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

The division of spur-thighed tortoises into subspecies is difficult and confusing. Given the huge range 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:

This incomplete listing shows the problems in division 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 their 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 spur-thighed 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.


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