Greek v Russian

[D_Waffs]

I'm sorry if this doesn't belong here but I'm new. Anyways, I have a tortoise that was sold to me as a Greek. If it is, it is a Testudo graeca. BUT I buy my tortoises from Expos where most are collected in the wild. I have seen this exact looking tortoise labeled as a Russian, which is what I hope it is. I have a Russian female so I would like him to be her mate.

He is oval in shape, as opposed to the usual round Russian. He has no noticeable spurs on his back legs. He has the same number and shape of bottom scutes.

I have some bad pics of him, I can provide more if necessary.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/invertmaniac/Photo197.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/invertmaniac/Photo198.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/invertmaniac/Photo200.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/invertmaniac/Photo201.jpg

 

[Michael Bird]

It's hard to tell for sure but your fourth photo looks like a spur on the leg to me, and the shell definitely looks like a Greek.

 

[D_Waffs]

Damn, I guess I'll just have to find someone else stupid enough to sell me a Greek for 50 dollars... and find a nice Russian male.

 

[egyptiandan]

I'm afraid you have found yourself a Russian male

Can you post pictures of your female? so we can see if she is a good match for your new male.

Danny

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi D_Waffs:

Welcome to the forum!!

Yes! You DO have a new Russian tortoise. They are great little tortoises.

 

[D_Waffs]

Ok I trust the Danny guy... I think. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, maybe I'm just paranoid. He is oval, she is round. He sleeps half the day, she is ALWAYS running around her pen, following me. I'll get some more pics I guess. Thanks for the ID.

By the way, they aren't new. I've had them for two years but now that they are maturing, I thought I might confirm their IDs.

 

[Michael Bird]

I'd trust Dan as well. I'm trying to learn, but I'm certainly not an expert.

I would have guessed Greek because of the high domed shell in picture 1 and what looks like spurs in #4, but if those really aren't spurs (the picture is small and my eyes aren't as good as they used to be), then everything else looks Russian...

 

[egyptiandan]

Russians do have small spurs and have a nail on the end of the tail like a Hermanns tortoise.
One subspecies of Russian is high domed and elongated (more normal Testudo shaped) than the 2 other flatter and more round subspecies.

Danny