Scientifically there are far too many genetic differences between these assumed subspecies to warrant them to be of the same family. It is a far more likely conclusion that they are of an entirely seperate species to one-another. Infact Testudo Graeca Ibera was once described as a completely seperate animal -Testudo Ibera- by Pallas way back in 1814, before being reclassified (wrongly in my opinion) in 1947 as the subspecies T.G.Ibera. Furthermore the actual existence of another subspecies - T.G.Terrestris - is extremely doubtful, as this race has been classified and re-classified by several different people over the years, with each description being entirely contradictory to one-another.
Despite the confusion it is an absolute certainty that some "sub-species" do infact exist, although some of which scientifically deserve to be a species in their own right. For example Testudo Graeca Ibera and Testudo Graeca Zarudnyi should be Testudo Ibera and Testudo Zarudnyi respectively. Two such animals have already had the privilege of being removed from the "Graeca" title - a tiny Tunisian species now rejoicing in the name Furculachelys Nabeulensis and a large Algerian animal renamed Furculachelys Whitei, although the latter had once been described as a seperate species - Testudo Whitei - by Bennet in 1836. In addition to these two, I'm sure that over the next few years certain other races of Testudo Graeca will no doubt be placed in differing groups, due to the enormous genetic diversity seen in this species.
Instead of referring to the inadequately taxonified Graeca subspecies usually found in most literature, I have instead listed the following tortoises in a manner which is commonly agreed upon by most tortoise experts of today.
North African Graeca
As already mentioned, this group of North African tortoises - along with most other spur-thighs - displays many different morpholoigical features from one geographical location to another, although it is fair to say that as a whole they are easily distinguishable from the rest of the Spur-thighed group. Furthermore their captive requirements are extremely similar to one-another, although they should only be kept in groups consisting of animals belonging to the same race. The closer the animals are in appearance to each other, then the likelihood of them being genetically compatible increases and thus the chances of disease, injuries and stress are lessened considerably.All spur-thighed tortoises have a prominent spur on each upper rear thigh, but lack a spur upon the tail. They usually have five claws on the forelimbs and adult female specimens posess a slightly flexible lower plastron. The supracaudal scute can be either divided or undivided (although most are undivided). The head shape of North African Graeca is more elongate and snake-like in appearance than that of Testudo Ibera for example, and their eyes are smaller and more "slit". Another observation made of the North African races is that they posess a rounder frontal vertabral scute, as oppose to a more squarer, angular scute as seen in Ibera and they usually have a higher and more domed overall carapace shape.
The "true" Testudo Graeca Graeca as desribed by Linneaus in 1758 originates from Morocco and southern Algeria. They are a fairly small race with males attaining little more than 14.5cm and females 18cm. The skin colouration is normally light brown/yellow and the head sometimes displays a few very light yellow scales to the rear of the snout. The carapace is often a fairly drab light brown without any dark melanistic patterns. However, some specimens which live on the reddish soils around the Atlas mountains can have orange-red coloured skin and carapaces. There are also regional variations found within this Moroccan group as darker and larger specimens can be found at the most northerly point of their range - these displaying the usual central-dot scute markings and dark bands around the scute perimeters.
The overall carapace shape is slightly elongated but has no serrated scutes or marginal flaring.
In addition to the Moroccan and southern Algerian race the other more commonly seen N.African Graeca include a large Algerian animal which tends to be darker than the Moroccan "nominate" race and has "paint splash" markings on it's rather more flared carapace, and a Libyan race which is also larger than their Moroccan counterparts with a quite elongated body shape but sports a more rounded rear carapace. The Libyan race is often a beautiful yellow-gold with highly contrasting black lines and splodges.
The plastrons of the N.African races, along with all the spurthighed tortoises display random dark blotches which cannot be used as a positive identification feature.
Gender diversity
Males are smaller in overall size and have a more elongated body shape with a narrower "waist". Male tails are longer and thicker, normally carried upwards and towards one side, whereas females have short stubby tails which point straight down.Again the male plastron is concave whereas the female's is flat.
Identification in brief
- Large single spur on each upper rear thigh
- No horny tip on the end of the tail
- Flexible lower plastron in adult females
- Snake-like head shape and narrow eyes
- High, domed carapace
- Round frontal vertabral scute
Requirements
Housing : Both outdoor and indoor/greenhouse accomodationSubstrate : Soil & sand mix (50/50) plus gravel and rocks
Planting : Coarse shrubs, thicket, cacti, grasses & weeds
Diet : Herbivorous
Hibernation : Yes
Other : Libyan origin animals cannot tolerate damp ground and prefer dry sandy substrates
Testudo (Graeca) Ibera
This tortoise was originally described by Pallas in 1814 before being reclassisfied as a subspecies of T.Graeca by Robert Mertens in 1946. However recent studies show that the original classification of this tortoise as a species in it's own right was almost undoubtedly correct in the first place.It's natural range includes Turkey, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq, western Iran and Jordan. Consequently due to this vast geographical range it should come as no surprise that this supposed Graeca subspecies does infact have subspecies of it's own (although these have yet to be officially classified). One such proposed subspecies is T.(Ibera) Anamurensis from south west Turkey which are considerably smaller in overall size, posess a light yellow carapace and have a yellow head and face. In addition to these features it also sports rear marginal flaring almost to the extent of T. Marginata. In complete contrast to this proposed subspecies the nominate Ibera species is usually very melanistic. The skin colouration along with the carapace can be almost black in some specimens, although most have a dark green background colour to the carapace with very dark or black markings around each scute and a central black dot in the middle of the vertebral and costal scutes.
Again these animals have the usual features of all the spur-thighs - no tail spur, hinged plastron in adult females and spurs upon the rear thighs. Interestingly T.Ibera often have two spurs on each thigh. However Testudo Ibera can be more positively identified from T.Graeca through the following features ; The head shape is less snake-like - being more broad and blunt and the eyes are much rounder and larger than that of their N.African counterparts. The overall dimensions of Ibera are much larger with males attaining an average carapace length of 18cm and females 20cm. The carapace isn't so highly domed but rather flat in comparison, also the frontal vertebral scute in this species is angular rather than round.
Gender diversity
Same as T.GraecaIdentification in brief
- Large single or double spur on each upper rear thigh
- No horny tip on the end of the tail
- Flexible lower plastron in adult females
- Broad, blunt head with large round eyes
- Flattish carapace
- Squareish, angular frontal vertebral scute
Requirements
Housing : Both outdoor and indoor/greenhouse accomodationSubstrate : Soil & sand mix (50/50) plus gravel and rocks
Planting : Coarse shrubs, thicket, cacti, grasses & weeds
Diet : Herbivorous
Hibernation : Yes
Other : N/A
Testudo (Graeca) Zarudnyi
The chances of even seeing this animal let alone owning one are very slim indeed. It is an extremely rare tortoise which has a very restricted natural habitat consisting of a small area of eastern Iran. In identical circumstances to T.Ibera this animal was originally described as an individual species in 1896 by Nikolski, before being relegated to another supposed Graeca subspecies.Little is known about it's activities, diet, or even it's genetic make-up, although it is safe to assume that this species is definately not a subspecific race of T.Graeca, but is infact a truly seperate animal which requires much investigation.
The appearance of this animal can be best described as a cross between Ibera and Marginata . It is certainly a large animal of Marginata proportions and is completely melanistic. Infact this big black tortoise could be mistaken at first glance as being a T.Marginata if it wasn't for the absent marginal flaring and the head and eye shape of T.Ibera . However, to confuse the taxonomist even further this tortoise has quite a highly domed shell which is a characteristic of the North African Graeca.
As usual it has no tail spur but posesses spurs on it's rear thighs.
Gender diversity
UnknownIdentification in brief
- Large single spur on each upper rear thigh
- No horny tip on the end of the tail
- Broad, blunt head with large round eyes
- High domed carapace
- Very large overall size
- Extremely melanistic carapace and skin
Requirements
Unknown, although presumably the same as T.GraecaTunisian Tortoise
The North African country of Tunisia was until recently thought to be home to a tiny and atrractively marked subspecies of T.Graeca, but recent extensive research conducted by Andy Highfield and Jill Martin resulted in this tortoise not only being renamed but also being placed in a newly proposed genus - "Furculachelys" .It is now commonly accepted as Furculachelys Nabeulensis (Highfield & Martin 1990) although many texts still refer to it as a Tunisian T.Graeca. Although it does infact resemble a Testudo Graeca with spurs upon it's rear thighs, absent tail spur, light colouration and a light yellow cluster of scales on the top of the head as is seen in some Moroccan graeca, it is easily distinguishable from T.Graeca because of the following characteristics ; Firstly it's size. This tortoise is very small in overall dimensions with the mean carapace length for adult males being 12.5 cm and females 16cm. The carapace is similarly shaped to T.Graeca but features a light yellow background colouration, complimented beautifully by contrasting black circular blotches in the centres of the vertebral and costal scutes. It also displays dark perimeter edging surrounding all of the scutes, however these markings often fade in elderly animals. (On a recent trip to North Africa I observed many elderly animals that sported uniform dull yellow carapaces which were almost completely void of all visible melanistic patterning.)
The plastron is of the same background colouration as the carapace but displays a large irregular shaped dark blotch which is centrally positioned . The skin colouration of the legs and neck is comprised of a light tan with irregular small clusters of darker scales, and as already mentioned the top of the head is home to a triangular shaped cluster of bright yellow scales which are easily noticeable and visually attractive.
Another key identifying characteristic of this animal is its overall skinny appearance, in particular the legs are very thin when compared to most other land tortoises. Infact it carries very little fat at all and so consequently should not be hibernated.
Gender diversity
Same as T.GraecaIdentification in brief
- Large Single spur on each upper rear thigh
- No horny tip on the end of the tail
- Very small adult size
- Yellow head markings
- Yellow carapace with contrasting melanistic dots in the centre of the scutes
- Thin legs
Requirements
Housing : Both outdoor and indoor/greenhouse accomodationSubstrate : Sandy with rocks & gravel
Planting : Coarse shrubs, cacti, grasses & weeds
Diet : Herbivorous
Hibernation : No
Other : These animals cannot tolerate cold or damp.
They must have year-round heated acomodation
They cannot be hibernated
Gilbert White's tortoise
This large and handsome tortoise was first described by Bennett in 1836 and received the name Testudo Whitei after the naturalist and explorer Gilbert White.In addition to being dubbed Testudo Whitei, it is now commonly known as Furculachelys Whitei due to it's internal bone structure not matching the Testudo genus, as is similarly the case with Furculachelys Nabeulensis. However the similarity between the two reflects only on their carapace and bone structure but stops abruptly there, as this central Algerian animal dwarfs it's Tunisian cousin with it's comparatively gargantuan overall dimensions. These animals can commonly surpass 30cm and weigh over 6kg.
In common with all the spur-thighed group it has no spur at the end of the tail but posesses a spur on each upper rear thigh. Infact the spurs on this animal are extremely large, protrusive, and are also cream or white in colouration, making them a key recognistic feature of this species. Furthermore, the elongated carapace of this animal is also characteristically a very light creamy-yellow colour, although this is broken up with random radiating "paint splashes" of grey coloured pigmentation.
The skin colour is also quite light, being a uniform tan colour. The plastron colouration is basically the same as the carapace except the markings are more smudged.
Other distinctive features include thick powerful forelimbs and a tapered triangular shaped head - this being broad at the back of the skull toward the neck and thin and pointed in the snout region. The upper beak of the jaw protrudes a little way down past the lower jaw, giving it a slight overgrown appearance.
Gender diversity
Same as T.GraecaIdentification in brief
- Very large Single white spur on each upper rear thigh
- No horny tip on the end of the tail
- Very large adult size
- Creamy coloured carapace with contrasting grey "paint splashes"
- Thick powerful legs
- Unusual head shape
Requirements
Housing : Both outdoor and indoor/greenhouse accomodationSubstrate : Soil & sand mix (50/50) plus gravel and rocks
Planting : Coarse shrubs, thicket, cacti, grasses & weeds
Diet : Herbivorous
Hibernation : Yes
Other : N/A