Tortoise identification needed!

ILoveTorts&Gerbils · Sep 3, 2015

So these are the two I pet-sat for a few hours, Pepper and George. The owners have no idea on species, age or sex.

A rough age would be great if you can manage it!

Thank you!

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dmmj · Sep 3, 2015

gopher tortoise pretty worn looking shell they look pretty old to me

SarahChelonoidis · Sep 3, 2015

I was actually going to say they were one of the Mediterranean species, but I don't know them well enough to id. @HermanniChris ?

dmmj · Sep 3, 2015

they actually could be but they're awfully big

dmmj · Sep 3, 2015

based on the head.im gonna stick with gopher

ILoveTorts&Gerbils · Sep 3, 2015

Yep, they were pretty big - very heavy too! And I think they're probably elderly.

Sexes?

I'll be sure to relay this to the owners, I couldn't believe they didn't know!

SarahChelonoidis · Sep 3, 2015

I'm thinking they're very large female Greeks.

domalle · Sep 3, 2015

SarahChelonoidis said:
I'm thinking they're very large female Greeks.

Certainly not Gophers although I can see why someone might think so at first glance.
Where are they located?

Tidgy's Dad · Sep 3, 2015

I also think that they are both large and old female Greek tortoises.
The spur-thighs are are evident in some pictures .
Some of the females here in Morocco get easily this big.
( and are then made into banjos or fire bellows

)

teresaf · Sep 3, 2015

Tails look female but Plastrons are VERY concave indicating male. I don't know this species though...pretty little buggers...

Yvonne G · Sep 3, 2015

dmmj said:
gopher tortoise pretty worn looking shell they look pretty old to me

No, not gopher tortoises. They're either Greek or Hermanns. Let's ask @HermanniChris

HermanniChris · Sep 3, 2015

There's not even a chance those are Gopher tortoises. Both are Testudo graeca (Greek tortoises). The female looks to be T. g. graeca and the male may be the same but he does look like he could be T. g. ibera. If you can post better, clearer photos I can be 100% sure on subspecies.

Keith D. · Sep 3, 2015

HermanniChris said:
There's not even a chance those are Gopher tortoises. Both are Testudo graeca (Greek tortoises). The female looks to be T. g. graeca and the male may be the same but he does look like he could be T. g. ibera. If you can post better, clearer photos I can be 100% sure on subspecies.

I agree they are def not gophers.

teresaf · Sep 3, 2015

HermanniChris said:
There's not even a chance those are Gopher tortoises. Both are Testudo graeca (Greek tortoises). The female looks to be T. g. graeca and the male may be the same but he does look like he could be T. g. ibera. If you can post better, clearer photos I can be 100% sure on subspecies.

I'm more interested on how you could tell that they were male and female. lol. they looked identical to me.

ILoveTorts&Gerbils · Sep 3, 2015

HermanniChris said:
There's not even a chance those are Gopher tortoises. Both are Testudo graeca (Greek tortoises). The female looks to be T. g. graeca and the male may be the same but he does look like he could be T. g. ibera. If you can post better, clearer photos I can be 100% sure on subspecies.

Thank you! Which was male and which was female? I unfortunately don't have any more photos, sorry.

ILoveTorts&Gerbils · Sep 3, 2015

domalle said:
Certainly not Gophers although I can see why someone might think so at first glance.
Where are they located?

We're in England. They live outdoors most of the time, and sometimes come into their owners' conservatory, but no lamps or UVBs etc.

HermanniChris · Sep 3, 2015

My mistake. I'm used to identifying pairs so it rolls off the tongue easily. I meant to say that one female looks to be ibera while the other looks to be T. g. graeca.

Tidgy's Dad · Sep 3, 2015

Yeah, I was right!!!
Two female Greeks.
(though I would say both Testudo graeca graeca, they look like the locals to me. )

ILoveTorts&Gerbils · Sep 3, 2015

HermanniChris said:
My mistake. I'm used to identifying pairs so it rolls off the tongue easily. I meant to say that one female looks to be ibera while the other looks to be T. g. graeca.

Thank you everyone. I will relay.

Jason post · Sep 12, 2015

They look like greeks

Tortoise identification needed!

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