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Popular Tortoises
Box Turtles
Burmese & Indian / Sri Lankan Star Tortoises
(G. platynota & G. elegans)
Other Stars
Angulate Tortoise
(Chersina angulata)
Misc. Pages
Have Greek Tortoise photos to share? Email me.
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Greek Tortoises
Testudo graeca
photo by stee (cc)
| Greek Tortoise quick facts |
- aka Mediterranean Spur-Thighed Tortoise
- Testudo graeca (T.g.) subspecies list varies depending on the source and publication date
- below is the 2008 listing from the IUCN / SCC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group; for the current subspecies listing, go to here [offsite link]
- T. g. graeca - Linnaeus 1758 (Greek tortoise)
- T.g. armeniaca - Chkhikvadze and Bakradze, 1991
- T.g. buxtoni - Boulenger, 1921
- T.g. cyrenaica - Pieh and Perälä, 2002
- T.g. ibera - Pallas, 1814
- T.g. lamberti - Pieh and Perälä, 2004
- T.g. marokkensis - Pieh and Perälä, 2004
- T.g. nabeulensis - Highfield, 1990
- T.g. soussensis - Pieh, 2001
- T.g. terrestris - Forsskål, 1775
- T.g. zarudnyi - Nikolsky, 1896
- some previous subspecies of T. g. have been elevated to full species status
- up to 5"-11"
- from southern Europe, Middle East, North Africa
- lives in semiarid and rocky plains
- likes to climb and dig
- outgoing, friendly, hardy, adapts to new environments
- requires similar care as Hermann's and Russian Tortoises
- native to temperate (not tropical) regions
- should be kept outdoors during warm summer months
- large, open tubs or tortoise tables are best for indoor winter housing (non hibernating Greek subspecies)
- very popular pet tortoise
- hibernates yes/no depending on native area
- NOT to be confused with the huge (150+ lbs) African Spurred Tortoise (sulcata)
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| Greek Tortoise books |
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Mediterranean Tortoises
- by Lance Jepson
- Kingdom Books, Havant, 2006
- copies of this book are usually available at the above link
- ISBN-10: 1852792299
- ISBN-13: 978-1852792299
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Russian Tortoises
- by E. J. Pirog
- TFH Publications, 2006
- includes the Greek tortoise
- ISBN-10: 0793828821
- ISBN-13: 978-0793828821
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Popular Tortoises
- by by Phillippe De Vosjoli
- Advanced Vivarium Systems, 2003
- includes the Greek Tortoise
- ISBN-10: 1882770668
- ISBN-13: 978-1882770663
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The Guide to Owning a Tortoise
- by Jerry G. Walls
- TFH Publications, 1996
- includes the Greek Tortoise
- ISBN-10: 0793820707
- ISBN-13: 978-0793820702
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| Greek Tortoise links |
Greek tortoises
- BCG - care sheet for
Mediterranean tortoises by British Chelonian Group
- Garden State Tortoise - inc. a photo gallery of Greeks
- Garden State Tortoise - differenciating Hermanns from Greek tortoises and differenciating Western Hermanns from Eastern Hermanns tortoises, at Webshots
- Garden State Tortoise - differentiating Hermanns, Greek, and Marginated tortoises, at SW bb
- Slowcoach - Mediterranean tortoises, UK
- Spur Thighed in the UK - by Lisa McIntyre
- Testudo Farm - many articles with photos about Mediterranean tortoises and their natural habitats, by Wolfgang Wegehaupt, DE
- The Tortoise Man - Greek & Marginated caresheet
- Tlady's - A Guide to Rearing Mediterranean Tortoises, 28-page care booklet by Linda King, UK
- Tortoise Trust - UK, care manual for Mediterranean tortoises, a pdf file
- TPG - Testudo graeca graeca caresheet, by Tortoise Protection Group, UK
- TPG - Testudo graeca ibera (Ibera tortoise) caresheet, by Tortoise Protection Group, UK
- The Turtle Source - photos and caresheet
Golden Greeks
- Deer Fern Farm - Golden Greeks (Testudo graeca terrestris), by Douglas Dix
- Reptile Channel - Breeding Golden Greek tortoises, by Douglas Dix
- Tortoise Reserve - Health, husbandry, and captive breeding of Golden Greek Tortoises, by David S. Lee & Mike Low
- Tortoise Trust - The mystery of the Golden Greeks, by A.C. Highfield
- World Chelonian Trust - Golden Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca terrestris / Testudo graeca floweri), by Darrell Senneke
- World Chelonian Trust - What exactly is a Golden Greek? by Darrell Senneke & Torston Blanck
Discussion
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