Tortoise Indentification

[beachylivin]

I work at a small nature center that has two Desert tortoises... or so we think. They are both adult males, approx. 20 years or age. The facility has had them since before I have worked there and they acquired them through a person that was relinquishing them.


One of them is for sure a Desert, but to me the two tortoises do not look alike. The tortoise that is in question is used to educate guests on what happens when a tortoise is not given the correct diet. His shell is very flat, as opposed to round (upward). In the beginning of his life, he clearly did not get the proper nutrients. The biggest noticeable characteristic is that the skin on his legs, up towards the body, is very orange. I am trying to figure out what type of species he may be. His scutes do not look like our Desert's scutes, they are a lot darker in color with some orange in them as well.

He does not look like a red foot or yellow foot- the coloring is on the skin closer to his body, not on the feet/lower legs.

Any ideas?!

Thank you!!

 

[Jacqui]

Okay, sometimes because my laptop is so slow, it doesn't download pictures. This may be the case now or perhaps the pictures are not showing for anybody?

 

[diamondbp]

I'm not seeing any pictures either.

 

[Saleama]

There are no pictures...

 

[beachylivin]

I did not post pictures, but will tomorrow.

I was hoping someone would know based of the orange coloring.

 

[Yvonne G]

The western pond turtle has orange skin on the upper front legs near the shell, but I doubt you have a water turtle. Take a look at Google Image for Actinemys marmorata and see if that looks like the other tortoise you're talking about.

Most water turtles can't swallow food unless they are under water, but some of the pond turtles within the species have developed the ability to eat out of water. So, if the turtle in question is eating, I guess it might be possible.