ID request by new member

nid

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Jul 10, 2018
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Hello Tortoise fans,

I'm a new member with a sad story.
My friend found the remains of a tortoise in a public park in Southern California; see attached photos,
and I like to find out what species it is.

Thanks !

Nid.
 

Attachments

  • ~~17cm Tortoise; remains DA_small-format.JPG
    ~~17cm Tortoise; remains DA_small-format.JPG
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  • ~~17cm Tortoise; remains L_small-format.jpg
    ~~17cm Tortoise; remains L_small-format.jpg
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  • ~~17cm Tortoise; remains V 1b_small-format.JPG
    ~~17cm Tortoise; remains V 1b_small-format.JPG
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Toddrickfl1

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I also vote Russian
 
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nid

New Member
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Herman's? Just a guess...
Thank you much for your reply !
Hermann's tortoise looks good as its plastral scute pattern resembles quite well, as does its size, and they are bred in the U.S. for the pet trade.
It looks like Hermann's tortoises typically have two longitudinal dark plastral stripes, and this specimen has dark scutes with light edges, but this coloration appears to be somewhat variable within the species.
Could it be one of the other Testudo species ?
 

nid

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Russian. Testudo horsfieldii.
Thanks, Tom !
Russian (Testudo horsfieldii) looks like a great match !

To satisfy my curiosity I have a couple of questions:
Besides Testudo hermanni, horsfieldii, and graeca, are there other Testudo species available in the U.S. pet trade ?
Is there a key to the Testudo species ?
 

Markw84

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Thank you much for your reply !
Hermann's tortoise looks good as its plastral scute pattern resembles quite well, as does its size, and they are bred in the U.S. for the pet trade.
It looks like Hermann's tortoises typically have two longitudinal dark plastral stripes, and this specimen has dark scutes with light edges, but this coloration appears to be somewhat variable within the species.
Could it be one of the other Testudo species ?
That is the remains of a horsefield (Russian) tortoise. Testudo horsfieldii

Small button nuchal
very wide 5th vertebral
overall much rounder shape
Plastral pattern
etc, etc...
 
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wellington

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Thanks, Tom !
Russian (Testudo horsfieldii) looks like a great match !

To satisfy my curiosity I have a couple of questions:
Besides Testudo hermanni, horsfieldii, and graeca, are there other Testudo species available in the U.S. pet trade ?
Is there a key to the Testudo species ?
@HermanniChris is the best for answering this.
 
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nid

New Member
Joined
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9
Location (City and/or State)
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That is the remains of a horsefield (Russian) tortoise. Testudo horsfieldii

Small button nuchal
very wide 5th vertebral
overall much rounder shape
Plastral pattern
etc, etc...

Awesome !
Thanks a lot, Mark !
 

Yvonne G

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Most of the Testudo are available in the U.S. Some much more expensive than others.
 
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Tom

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Hello Tortoise fans,

I'm a new member with a sad story.
My friend found the remains of a tortoise in a public park in Southern California; see attached photos,
and I like to find out what species it is.

Thanks !

Nid.
Russians are escape artists. I only half joke when I say I think they can levitate when people aren't looking. This was probably someone escaped pet. It is certainly possible that it was intentionally released, but since these are valuable and sellable, I kind of doubt that. I'm also surprised it didn't survive out there. My best guess is that is was eating plants sprayed with toxic chemicals if it was in a public park. So sad that we allow all these toxins to be sprayed all over the place. I wish I could stop it.
 
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nid

New Member
Joined
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Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
L.A.
Russians are escape artists. I only half joke when I say I think they can levitate when people aren't looking. This was probably someone escaped pet. It is certainly possible that it was intentionally released, but since these are valuable and sellable, I kind of doubt that. I'm also surprised it didn't survive out there. My best guess is that is was eating plants sprayed with toxic chemicals if it was in a public park. So sad that we allow all these toxins to be sprayed all over the place. I wish I could stop it.

Thanks for sharing this insight, Tom.
 

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