Types of Tortoises
Species and Subspecies
[Greek Land Tortoise (Testudo Hermanni)]
There are 2 exact different attributes between land tortoises and other European or North African tortoises. 1st attribute: The Greek tortoises possesses a horn nail at the tail end that is never present with other tortoises. 2nd attribute: The Greek tortoises has a horn cone missing between the tail and back legs. There is also a 3rd attribute. The Greek tortoise has a split tail plate, this attribute proves to be extremely inexact in the type determination.Subspecies: Testudo hermanni boettgeri (eastern race)
The basis colour of the back shell is olive brown and it also possess different sized black pigments. The black “patches” are usually found on the front and side horn plates. The stomach shell is usually yellowish brown with dark “patches”. The Eastern race can be found in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania and Romania. They become around 20 to 30 cm (withers height), sometimes even 35 cm. Males that have finished growing weight around 800 g - 1500 g. However, females that have finished growing weigh 1500 g - 3000 g. Males have a stronger and longer tail than the females. Keeping Testudo hermanni boettgeri is the most appropriate tortoise type due to the climate conditions. These tortoise types can be over wintered outdoors with suitable equipment.
Subspecies: Testudo hermanni hermanni (western race)
The basic colour of the back shell is yellowish with black pigments. The cheeks have a yellowish patch. The stomach shell is unified by two continuous dark bands. The western race can be found in mid and northern Italy, south France, Corsica, Sardinia on the Balearic Islands and in northern Spain. Testudo hermanni hermanni are 20 cm at the most. Therefore they are much smaller than the eastern race. As with the eastern race, the male Testudo hermanni hermanni have a longer and stronger tail than the females. Testudo hermanni hermanni cannot spend winter outdoors. You should choose a frost free room.
[Moorish Tortoises (Testudo graeca)]
The Moorish tortoises possess a horn cone on both back thighs, which is missing on the Greek tortoise. The present horn nail that can be found on the tail end of the Greek tortoise is missing on the Moorish tortoise. Furthermore, the tail plate is not split. There are 5 subspecies, whereas the Testudo graeca iberia and Testudo graeca graeca are the most often imported.Subspecies: Testudo graeca Iberia (eastern race)
It is difficult to tell if young animals are male or female. Depending on the age and the size, the sex can be differentiated. The tail of a male tortoise is longer and thicker as the penis is integrated. The whole bodies of younger animals are still growing and that’s what makes it difficult to know exactly if it’s a male or female.
The shell is oval shaped and has an olive coloured basis tone with irregular pigments. It is easier to recognise the colour difference on younger animals than on adults. The eastern race is widespread in Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Caucasus. Testudo graeca Iberia is a tortoise race that becomes very large. The length of the shell can reach up to 35 cm. The weight of Moorish tortoises living in the wild is between 1700 g and 2000 g. As with the Greek tortoises, the Moorish males also have a longer and stronger tail. Winter can be spent in a frost free room or in a greenhouse. The eastern race needs plenty of warmth.
Subspecies: Testudo graeca graeca (western race)
The basis colour of the shell differentiates a lot. It can be bright yellow, pale olive or brown to red brown. The black pigments are also present. However, the back edge does not have any pigments. The western race is smaller than the eastern race and has a highly curved shell (length up to 25 cm). Testudo graeca graeca can be found in southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Only small populations have been proved there. The largest population is estimated to be in Spain. Hibernation should not follow outdoors. They need a frost free room, where no wet and cold weather can enter.
Subspecies: Testudo graeca terrestris
The basic colour is the same as the western race, however the black pigments are more of a brown and not as strongly developed. The head, neck and legs seem to be yellowish to olive. They can be found in the eastern Mediterranean countries (east Libya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, south east Turkey). Testudo graeca terrestris are quite small. The length of the shell is up to 16 cm long. Hibernation should be carried out in a frost free room. A shortened hibernation is recommendable, but not absolutely necessary.
Subspecies: Testudo graeca anamurensis
It is difficult to tell if young animals are male or female. Depending on the age and the size, the sex can be differentiated. The tail of a male tortoise is longer and thicker as the penis is integrated. The whole bodies of younger animals are still growing and that’s what makes it difficult to know exactly if it’s a male or female.
The shell shows a broken patchy design. Otherwise, this subspecies is similar to the eastern race. Chin and throat appear to be white-yellow. The head is plain to dark yellow. They are spread out on the south west coast of Turkey.
Hibernation must be carried out in a frost free room.
Subspecies: Testudo graeca zarudny
The basic colour of the shell is similar to the eastern race. They can be found in eastern and southern Iran, southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Hibernation must be carried out in a frost free room. A shortened hibernation is recommendable, but not absolutely necessary.
[Wide Brimmed Tortoises
(Testudo marginata)]
The wide brimmed tortoise is the most rare and the largest European land tortoise. The back part of the shell bows lightly upwards, especially with older animals. In the middle of the horn plates there are yellow-brown patches. As the tortoise gets older these patches disappear. The floor shell is yellow to brown, mostly with triangular black patches. The hunch flakes that the eastern Moorish tortoise possess are missing on the wide brimmed tortoises. The tail plate is never split. The wide brimmed tortoise can be found in the whole of Greece, Sardinia and on some Aegean islands. The shell length can reach between 30 and 35 cm. They weigh up to 5 kg. Hibernation must be carried out in a frost free room.
Pictures were taken by Nina T. and Monika (Land tortoise gallery)
[Four Toed Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi)]
This type of tortoise is apparent due to its very flat shell. The basic colour is yellow-olive to brown with several dark pigments. The front legs are very strongly developed and possess only four toes. The tortoises have several small hunch flakes between the root of the tail and the back legs. However, this type do not have a horn nail. The four toed tortoise can be found in mid Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Belutschistan, Pakistan and Iran). Because this type is widely spread, it is presumed that there are subspecies, this is however still unknown. The tortoises can reach up to 20 cm. The males are smaller than the females. Keeping them outdoors is recommended in the Summer months. They should not hibernate outdoors, but in a frost free room.
[Egyptian Tortoises (Testudo kleinmanni)]
These are the smallest European land tortoises. The basic colour of the shell is yellow or yellow olive. There are small black pigments on the shell. The back edge does not have any pigments. The hunch flakes and the nail that have already been mentioned, are completely missing. The stomach shell is light yellow with several dark triangular patches. The black eyes are very apparent, as they stand out against the light yellow neck and legs. Subspecies of this tortoise are unknown. The Egyptian tortoises can be found in Egypt, as the name says. Furthermore they have been sighted in Libya and Israel. The shell length is between 10 and 15 cm, with a weight of approximately 200 g. This tortoise should be kept in a terrarium and only outdoors on very hot Summer days. They do not hibernate. In the cold seasons, the tortoise should be kept in a terrarium with a source of heat.There are unfortunately no pictures available.
[Different Types]
I have now introduced you to several types of tortoises. As you were able to read on my start page, there are many different types and it is impossible for me to describe each type individually. Therefore I have created a short summary.1. Land tortoises in temperate zones
Moorish land tortoise
Greek land tortoise
Wide Brimmed tortoise
2. Land tortoises in dry areas
African Beak Breast Tortoise
Argentinean land tortoise
Indian Star Tortoise
Panther Tortoise
Madagascar Ray Tortoise
Spur Tortoise
Yellow Head Tortoise
Celebes Tortoise
Smooth Edged Jointed Tortoise
Crevice Tortoise
Madagascar Spider Tortoise
Madagascar Flat Backed Tortoise
Four Toed Tortoise
Egyptian Land Tortoise
3. Land tortoises in the tropics
Coal Tortoise
Forest Tortoise
Spike Edged Jointed Tortoise
Neck Jointed Tortoise
Back Indian Land Tortoise
