Latin Etymology: Testudo ("tortoise") graeca ("Greek")
Adult Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) at Location - at Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025
Weight: up to 7kg / Length: 20-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Despite the alternative name of "Greek Tortoise" this species is distributed widely around the Mediterranean and extending out past Iran. An extremely long lived species, they are confirmed to be able to live in excess of 100 years and there is one instance of an individual in captivity believed to be approximately 160 years old. Their conservation status is considered vulnerable as they are taken from the wild for the pet trade despite regulations against this.
Related Species:
Order: Testudines
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Testudo
SUBSPECIES: T. g. graeca, T. g. soussensis, T. g. marokkensis, T. g. nabeulensis, T. g. cyrenaica, T. g. ibera, T. g. armeniaca, T. g. buxtoni, T. . terrestrus, T. g. zarudnyi, T. g. whitei, T. g. perses
- Sighting Locations -
TURKEY - Turkish: Mahmuzlu Akdeniz kaplumbağası("Meditteranean Spurred Tortoise")
- ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - One near Side
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
No comments:
Post a Comment