Here is a post based on Fritz Jurgen Obst's research on steppe tortoises in Central Asia. The following captions and photos are from his book:
Obst, Fritz Jurgen. 1988. Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins. St. Martin's Press: New York. 231 pp.
Caption: "The biotope of Horsfield's tortoise (Agrionemys [Testudo] horsfieldii) in Central Asia. The slopes of steppe-land hills, preferably with an eastern or south-eastern exposure, are the site of burrows in which the tortoises live. Larger mammals (porcupine, fox) like to extend tortoise burrows to make their own lairs. Egg-laying sites of tortoises are usually situated on higher, sunny slopes. The steppe valleys with their herbaceous vegetation serve as grazing grounds. Here, turtles come together for mating." (p. 85)
Caption: "Common co-inhabitants in the burrows of Horsfield's tortoise:
small mammals, e.g. ground squirrels and marmots
lizards, e.g. agamids and desert runner snakes, e.g. Tartar sand boas, desert colubrids or Levantine vipers
numerous arthropods:
scorpions, wasps, beetles" (p. 86)
Caption: "Four-toed tortoise (Agrionemys [Testudo] horsfieldi) in the desert region of Amu Darya [Turkmenistan]" (pp. 100-101)
Caption: "Entry to a burrow. In front of it lies the shell of a hatched tortoise." (pp. 100-101)
Caption: "Desert valley in South Tadzhikistan [Tajikistan], USSR. On the slopes are the burrows of the steppe tortoises." (pp. 100-101)
Obst, Fritz Jurgen. 1988. Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins. St. Martin's Press: New York. 231 pp.
Caption: "The biotope of Horsfield's tortoise (Agrionemys [Testudo] horsfieldii) in Central Asia. The slopes of steppe-land hills, preferably with an eastern or south-eastern exposure, are the site of burrows in which the tortoises live. Larger mammals (porcupine, fox) like to extend tortoise burrows to make their own lairs. Egg-laying sites of tortoises are usually situated on higher, sunny slopes. The steppe valleys with their herbaceous vegetation serve as grazing grounds. Here, turtles come together for mating." (p. 85)
Caption: "Common co-inhabitants in the burrows of Horsfield's tortoise:
small mammals, e.g. ground squirrels and marmots
lizards, e.g. agamids and desert runner snakes, e.g. Tartar sand boas, desert colubrids or Levantine vipers
numerous arthropods:
scorpions, wasps, beetles" (p. 86)
Caption: "Four-toed tortoise (Agrionemys [Testudo] horsfieldi) in the desert region of Amu Darya [Turkmenistan]" (pp. 100-101)
Caption: "Entry to a burrow. In front of it lies the shell of a hatched tortoise." (pp. 100-101)
Caption: "Desert valley in South Tadzhikistan [Tajikistan], USSR. On the slopes are the burrows of the steppe tortoises." (pp. 100-101)