Identification Help

[david10]

Hi,

I found a Tortoise in a communal garden in Greece and have been feeding and watering him for 6 months.

It's coming up to hibernation time i guess and would like to learn what type of species he is if you may help?

Thank you!

 

[Yvonne G]

It's either a Greek or Hermanns. May we please see the under side shell?

 

[david10]

Thank you @Yvonne G. Here is a photo of the underside.

I'm just getting ready for him to hibernate (outside) in Athens so appreciate your help identifying

 

[Yvonne G]

I think it may be a Marginated tortoise - Testudo marginata. But because there's no flair around the bottom of the carapace I'm not sure. Let's ask @HermanniChris @TeamZissou

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I think it may be a Marginated tortoise - Testudo marginata. But because there's no flair around the bottom of the carapace I'm not sure. Let's ask @HermanniChris @TeamZissou

It could be a female Marginated. They don't have such flares a male tortoises. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/female-marginated-tortoises.47663/

 

[Markw84]

Yes... Young marginated tortoise.

 

[david10]

Thank you everyone for your input.

It seems like the sex is up for debate, is there anything I can do to get to the bottom of that subject?

Is there any way to identify roughly the age?

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks like a male tail, but if you pull up some pictures of male marginateds you'll see they have quite the flair around the bottom of the carapace, and yours doesn't. It might just be that he's still young and the flair has yet to develop.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Hi,

I found a Tortoise in a communal garden in Greece and have been feeding and watering him for 6 months.

It's coming up to hibernation time i guess and would like to learn what type of species he is if you may help?

Thank you!

Just out of curiosity, did you take this tortoise home? It seems it may be a native species in Greece