T.h.boettgeri or T.h.hercegovinensis?

[Hank]

Hi all,

I would like to ask you for your expertise.

I bought this young male. I have my suspicions it is not the sub-species I bought it for.

Can you give me your view on what sub-species of the Herman's tortoise this is?

Thanks Hank.

 

[CactusVinnie]

It looks like a hermanni x boettgeri hybrid, since it has both inguinals and the black on the plastron is quite rich. However, that black would fit a herzegovinensis, since there are lots of individuals in the T.h.herz. areal having one or both inguinals scutes present. I would be inclined towards pure herzegovinensis with inguinals, because I suppose that hybrids implying boettgeri will have a more irregular black on the plastron. Maybe wrong, wait for more experienced answer.

 

[Hank]

Thank you for your post. It is interesting reading.

I'm looking forward to hearing more views.

 

[CactusVinnie]

Forgot to say, being busy to be smart: of course it can be plain Boettgeri too, LOL!!! Only pure Western is excluded. But for such a small animal, you should wait more to find for sure.

 

[LongislandPhan]

I just ordered a Dalmation (hercegovinensis) and it looks like you may have one aswell. However, as mentioned above it will become much easier to classify him definitively as he ages. Goodluck!

 

[Beeliz]

are there any differences in care for the dalmatian species from the easternhermanns?

 

[10mm]

are there any differences in care for the dalmatian species from the easternhermanns?

Same care.

 

[Beeliz]

Good to know,,cause I just found out I also have a dalmatian

 

[GBtortoises]

This tortoise is almost definitely a 100% Eastern Hermann's, Testudo hermanni boettgeri. It is definitely not a Western/Eastern hybrid and only shows one minor characteristic of a Dalmatian.