Tortoise ID help please

[JonC]

Hi All,

We aquired this tortoise a few years ago when my wife's grandfather passed away and we've kept him since. I assume he's a boy (we've not sexed him and judging by the lack of concavity of the underneath of his shell he may well turn out to be a girl).

I wondered what species it is as it was just bought as a tortoise about 50-60 years ago.









Many thanks for any assistance.

Kind regards

Jon

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi Jon,
You have a Spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca from North Africa. It's a female and most likely T.g.whitei from Algeria.

Danny

 

[JonC]

Hi Many thanks for the prompt response. I've just been outside and had a look at the tortoise. Its definitely a female and there are bony spurs on the hind legs too. Good spot considering these couldn't be seen.

What gave you the clues as to the identity ?

We'll have to start calling her a 'she' now ! We'd assumed it was a male before.

Cheers for the help.

Jon

 

[JustAnja]

She is a beautiful old girl that has been taken care of very well.

 

[spikethebest]

very nice tortoise.

 

[Crazy1]

She is a wonderful looking elder tortoise. Wonderful of you to care for her.

 

[JonC]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I've been lucky really as the tortoise was about 50-55 years old when we acquired her (sadly due to the passing away of my wife's grandfather). So I haven't been responsible for the majority of Torty's care. Since then she's lived in our garden in the UK and munched her way through the dandelion weeds and clover in the garden. I supplemented the diet with rocket leaves and watercress which we sprinkled bits of cuttlefish bone over. Unfortunately we also fed sliced apples, tomatoes, strawberries and lettuce which I've since learnt isn't ideal.

Once we get some sun here (raining in Britain at the moment[/font]) I'll take some more photos and upload to the web.

Regards

Jon

 

[purpod]

Hiya Jon ~

Looks as tho your son is happy with his adopted 'sister' ~ Keep up the xllnt work ~

Purpod

 

[Jacqui]

Sorry for the reason the tort was passed on to you, but love the continuation of it's care within your family.

 

[terryo]

How lucky you are to have her. She is so beautiful.