Russian Subspecies discussion thread

[egyptiandan]

I finally got around to taking pictures The first is T.h.horsfieldii. They are domed and almost as wide as they are long.
T.h.horsfieldii

The next is T.h.rustamovi. They are domed, but long and narrow.
T.h.rustamovi

Danny

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Next is T.h.kazachstanica. They are flat and almost as wide as long.
T.h.kazachstanica

Danny

 

[Yvonne G]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thank you so much for that, Danny. Could you or Robyn please sticky that? I'm still learning my moderator skills.

Yvonne

 

[tortoisenerd]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thanks! I really can't tell them apart, lol. Someday you'll get to ID my Trevor.

 

[Isa]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thank you very much Danny
It is really interesting.

 

[egyptiandan]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thanks Yvonne, Kate and Isa

All stickied Yvonne

Be glad to Kate

Danny

 

[tortoisenerd]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Does he have to be fully grown to take a guess without knowing the parents?

 

[gummybearpoop]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thanks Dan...always up to date on the latest tortoise information!

 

[f burkart]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Thanks for the info really helpful!!

 

[-EJ]

RE: Russian Subspecies

I just noticed this... please tell me it's a joke.

Looking at the photos objectively and having seeing hundreds and how they vary...

Oh... subspecies = isolated populations.

 

[ChiKat]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Does he have to be fully grown to take a guess without knowing the parents?

That's my question too. Right now Nelson seems very round and not narrow, but I don't know if that's just because he's a hatchling.

 

[Rhyno47]

RE: Russian Subspecies

My two are the first two on your list.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Those Welch's glasses are SO collectible...to see one under a tortoise makes me cringe..

 

[-EJ]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Focus... you need to focus...

Those Welch's glasses are SO collectible...to see one under a tortoise makes me cringe..

 

[TylerStewart]

RE: Russian Subspecies

I hadn't noticed this before, but this seems strange to me also.... I think like EJ was saying - I've seen and purchased Russians that were fresh imports from a single shipment that would represent all of these almost exactly. Are you thinking (Danny) that these are from different regions, and managed to get within a single shipment?

 

[Stephanie Logan]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Those Welch's glasses are SO collectible...to see one under a tortoise makes me cringe..

Is it OK to laugh at a picture of a tortoise that is high-centered on a jelly glass? I immediately thought of Bob and his water dish...

 

[TortoiseMD]

RE: Russian Subspecies

I never heard of this ! subspecies of Russians, I have all 3 "assumed" subspecies, but then I have Russians that look different than all 3, so does that mean there are more subspecies or that is it?
I tend to see the 3 pictured above as all similar with natural variations of shell growth.
Are these recognized subspecies of Russians? if so that changes a lot of the way of care of these Russians, as different regions have diferent climates and that could mean you should provide each type with as close to their natural climate as possible and not mix them all !!!
Please clarify

 

[-EJ]

RE: Russian Subspecies

They are all the same animal... different populations.

 

[terracolson]

RE: Russian Subspecies

So can you tell any difference in them?
personality?
breeding?
hardiness?

 

[dmmj]

RE: Russian Subspecies

What I want to know is how he got them to stay on the jelly glasses? Tape? Glue? Drugs? Threats to their family? Enquiring minds want to know.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

RE: Russian Subspecies

Which subspecies are you most likely to encounter at Petco, etc.?