Taxonomy
Until 2001, the taxon Testudo kleinmanni consisted of two very similar turtles including Testudo werneri described by the Finnish Perälä herpetologists. (Next issue)
Considering the recent molecular and morphological studies of the genus Testudo, some scientists have proposed to rename the Testudo kleinmanni to Chersus kleinmanni in order to differentiate the type of Testudo.

Description
The Testudo kleinmanni is the smallest of all the turtles of the genus Testudo (including Eurotestudo), while being genetically very close to the largest (Testudo marginata). Females reach 13 cm long while males generally do not exceed 9 inches long.

The main distinction of the Egyptian tortoise: its shell of golden tan color, its scales, which are circumvented by a board, sometimes very dark and thick plate, which is adorned with one or two dark-shaped triangles. The shell has an oval shape with a pronounced dome as a backside and a plastron very mobile at the back allowing it to dig skillfully. The supracaudale of the shell is very curved in males, while for females it is quite straight.
Unlike its cousin the Testudo graeca occupying neighboring territories, the Testudo kleinmanni does not possess a spur on its rear legs.
The sexual dimorphism is very pronounced in this case. Males have a long tail rather big at the base while females have a very short tail. The width of the opening Cloaca at the base of the tail is quite important for males.

Distribution and habitat
The Egyptian tortoise’s range occupies a strip of 110 km wide, ranging from Libya to Egypt to southern Israel. In this zone rainfall is very low and may even make us doubt the existence of subjects.
In its natural environment, it is found almost exclusively in a sandy habitat. In the past, it occupied a territory lying on 123,610 km along the Mediterranean coast, now reduced to only 16,600 km, with a reduction of specimen estimated at 85%, from 55,600 30 years ago to 7470-present day (including 5000 specimens adults). The census of this species was taken in Libya.
Throughout the nights, there is a high rate of moisture from the sea that intensifies with cold nights.

Lifestyles
Testudo kleinmanni is eats vegetarian food which consists of fresh and dried herbs, leaves of small trees and flowers, but very rarely insects and feces. One can characterize it as opportunistic feeding.
In order to escape the excessive heat of the day and cold desert nights, the Egyptian turtles take refuge in burrows dug by small mammals where they find high humidity and constant temperatures.
At dawn, the turtles wake up to enjoy the freshness of the beginning of the day. At the burrow’s exit, the turtles quench their thirst with a bit of fallen dew and then, briefly expose themselves to the sun. This exhibition allows them to capture UVB rays suitable for the synthesis of vitamin D. After a quick search of food, and with the gradual rise of temperatures, Testudo kleinmanni are inactive during the hottest hours of the day. Their activity resumes at lower temperatures at the end of the day.
This species is not lethargic, but has summer activity, enabling it to survive periods of high heat and water shortages the summer. During this same period, rodent burrows that they occupy, shelter them from heat and provide them with a relatively stable temperature and humidity level. The end of summer arrives as the temperatures decline and then the mating period begins in September. The courtship is identical to other Testudo. The male gives violent blows to the female shell to show its strength then it will bite the front and hind legs to immobilize her and finally climbs on top. It emits during mating cries called "coitus" easily heard by humans.
The period of egg lying is from the beginning of May until the end July. A female lays 3 to 5 times a year and can lay up to 12 eggs in a whole year. Each laying consists of 1 to 4 eggs (average 2) and is spaced 25 to 40 days. The eggs are buried in holes of a dozen centimeters deep. The incubation time in the wild is 3 months.

Protection
The Testudo kleinmanni is listed on the Red List of IUCN and is included in the Washington Convention, CITES Appendix I. Its collection and sale is strictly prohibited. The Testudo kleinmanni is a species in the process of disappearance and if the current threats remain, we can predict its extinction within 20 years.
The causes of this loss are: the raising of sheep, habitat alteration, capture for sale to tourists, inclusion in the Egyptian private gardens and underground exploration in Europe. Fortunately, unlike other endangered species, they are not caught for consumption by local people as it is against their religion; it is an unclean animal to eat.