HotdogKnight
Active Member
I was reading something earlier about how Russian tortoises originate close to Afghanistan and the Gobi desert however they're classed as Mediterranean and need high humidity and greens?
Why are Russians 'Mediterranean'?
- Thread starter HotdogKnight
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I think it's more or less a generic term used for all the Testudo species.
Technically, russian torts are 'afghan tortoises' according to both Arkive and the IUCN Red List.
http://www.arkive.org/afghan-tortoise/testudo-horsfieldii/
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21651/0
Russian is a little like a nickname
I agree. Mediterranean is very general and has a 'wide sweep'.
http://www.arkive.org/afghan-tortoise/testudo-horsfieldii/
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21651/0
Russian is a little like a nickname
I agree. Mediterranean is very general and has a 'wide sweep'.
I don't think "Afgan" is any more accurate than "Russian" as a name for this species. Don't they occur in at least 5 countries? I have seen the term "Steppe tortoise", and that is a good descriptor of its habitat.
Since four out of the five Testudo species occur around the Mediterranean, the group is rightly called by that name. The horsfieldii's are the poor steppe-child of the family.
Since four out of the five Testudo species occur around the Mediterranean, the group is rightly called by that name. The horsfieldii's are the poor steppe-child of the family.
HotdogKnight
Active Member
Oh I see, so they're named more for the 'testudo' rather than where they originate?
