What is the Greek tortoise
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
In Greece there are three species of tortoises: the so-called Greek turtle (Testudo graeca), the Mediterranean turtle or Hermann's turtle (Testude hermanni), and the loggerhead turtle (Testudo marginata).
The Greek tortoise, ia a medium-sized species found in Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. More specifically, we can find it in the Balkan countries, in Georgia, in Azerbaijan, in Armenia, in Egypt, in Iran, in Iraq, and of course in Greece. Eurasian and Middle Eastern populations live on plateaus and mountains, usually in dry ecosystems.
This is an animal with a very long lifespan, as Greek tortoises have been recorded to reach 125 years, and there are unverified reports of tortoises reaching 200.
The Greek tortoise has a domed shell, a flat head with large eyes, large scales on its feet, and strong claws. Its color can be black, dark yellow, gold, or brown. Males differ from females in the following characteristics: they are smaller in size, have longer tails, and the opening under their tail is further away from its base. The lower part of their body is more curved, while in females it is flat. Finally, the back of the male's carapace is wider than it is long.
There are many subspecies of Greek tortoise, some of which are extremely different from each other. For example, those that live in colder climates hibernate in the winter, while others stay awake year-round and prefer warm places. These turtles live in areas with low humidity and a dry atmosphere. During the hours when the weather is very hot, they are protected from the high temperatures in burrows, while otherwise they are active mainly during the day.
Greek tortoises are herbivores, and feed on various plants and grass.
The breeding season of Greek tortoises living in North Africa extends from April to May, and then again in autumn. For turtles living in Eurasia and the Middle East, the breeding season is in May and June. The gestation of the Greek tortoise lasts 55-70 days, and lays 1-7 eggs.
We don't know much about the behavior of Greek tortoises during mating. In general, land turtle mating systems consist of either one male with several females, or one female with several males. The mating instinct of the Greek tortoise "wakes up" directly with the end of hibernation.
In Greece, this particular turtle is found in Central and Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and several Aegean islands, such as Thassos, Samothraki, Limnos, Lesvos, and Chios. Also, it has been introduced by man to several islands beyond the limits of its natural distribution, as for example in Crete, where one can meet individual populations.
Unfortunately, Greek tortoises face threats such as the illegal pet trade, and the degradation and destruction of their habitats, mainly as a result of overgrazing by production animals. This species is classified as vulnerable on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while the list does not contain the exact size of its population.
It is important to know that tortoises living in Greece are considered wild animals and are not pets, as pointed out by the Wildlife Protection and Care Center (KEPPAZ). Therefore, most of the feeding advice for land turtles that we can find on the internet, does not apply to Greek tortoises. These are animals that are not made to live in captivity, so it is forbidden to take them home when we find them in the forest or in the mountains.
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