Description

The Eastern Hermann's Tortoise (known as the Balkans Tortoise) is a species cousin of the French tortoise, which has only some small differences. Firstly, this species has a much clearer color on its back with a more light-yellow and green tint. As an adult, its size is much larger (approx. 26 cm for the females and 19 cm for the males). As far as the breast plate, it is distinguishable from the hermanni starting with the median groove on the pectoral and femoral plates (see diagram below). You can also see a difference in breast plate from its French cousin by the two discontinuous black bands; but they have two common characteristics which are the divided scales of the supracaudale and a claw at the end of the tail.

Eurotestudo boettgeri (left) & Eurotestudo hermanni (right)

 

Distribution and habitat

Eurotestudo boettgeri are found in Greece, on European coasts of Turkey, in the Balkans states like in Bulgaria and in the extreme south of Romania. It occupies a biotope made up of scrublands and Mediterranean maquis which enables it to take refuge against predators, but it is also found it in meadows and forest outskirts.

 

 

Way of life

The Eastern Hermann's Tortoise, like its French cousin, is very resistant to the European climate, namely very cold winters and very hot summers or they will go to humid places, in the shade. Its food is primarily herbivorous. Mating occurs at the end of hibernation and the females lay around mid- May as well as in autumn. The layings generally consist of 5 to 7 eggs and the duration of incubation is approximately 60 days.

 

 

 

Protection