Identification help: Dalmations or Easterns?

[Laura Currado]

I need some help. My husband and I have adopted two Hermanns tortoises and despite the YouTube videos, the diagrams on here, and scores of pictures elsewhere, we aren't certain what exactly we have. Can I have some input from people much better at this than us?

The female is guestimated to be 4 years old and the male between 4 and 6. Both are about 5 to 6 inches long.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Look like Easterns to me.

 

[CactusVinnie]

In fact, Dalmatians are not always lacking inguinal scutes, and many animals right in the Dalmatian litoral strip- so, typical herzegovinensis country- posess not only one, but often both inguinals. The only certitude for a Dalmatian is small size and lack of inguinals, and more contrasting colours; also, defined or fading colours are not entirely reliable when inguinals present- while Easterns can be duller as a rule, some can be very nice and contrasting.
Long before treating Herzegovinensis as a separate taxon, both varieties were exported in bulk, mixed. Hybrids occured then in the hobby, and mixed characters appeared too.
Don't bother now, it's just hobby, not reintroduction program. Myself, as a location and purity freak, I would not care about hobby animals- I have a few animals from Greece, some like our native ecotype, one very different, and if no intention to release their (future) offspring, I am perfectly happy with them as different as they are.
Balkan hermanni are quite poor studied, and I would not be surprised if at least one more variety will be separated. ALL of them intergrade, so they will still be Boettgeri, including Dalmatians.
Just enjoy them!

 

[GBtortoises]

They're Easterns.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Very nice coloring!

And as Vinnie has said, many, if not most, "Easterns" have a little Dalmation in them (and vice versa)...that may account for your torts vivid coloring, but there's no way of knowing for certain.

Enjoy them...