I'll take a picture probably tomorrow (they are burrowed in, likely for the night and I don't want to disturb) perhaps they are very small and light to match the body because they are certainly a greek.Yes. There is one on the back of each thigh with the Testudo graeca. Some might be a lighter or darker color to match their skin and then lighten up as they grow. Here is a picture of my month-old marokkensis hatchling, and his thigh spurs are visible.View attachment 274623
I would rule out the soussensis. They are very uncommon and not many breeders have them. If the breeder you got yours from has hermanni as well, then that's more likely, especially since he is crossbreeding subspecies of graeca.
I don’t see an ounce of hermanni in there. Everything from markings, scute arrangement, structure etc are all graeca. Soussensis are typically the only graeca without any spurs but, I think we need to wait and see how this one grows. There’s a chance soussensis is in the DNA somewhere. So many European tortoises have been traded over the years and even released into natural areas to continue bloodline pollution. In addition, we can’t really ever rule anything out with Testudo. Look at the large number of hermanni in Sicily (Madonie) for example. These animals have every large, pronounced thigh spurs and they are 100% pure hermanni. Not a hint of graeca having ever influenced them. Keep us updated. Perhaps this one’s spurs will develop over time.
I think I see a little nub!View attachment 276569 Atlas just completed a major shed on their legs and thighs. I expected to see fresh little spurs developing, but alas, so far they remain quite smooth. Haha. Atlas will be 4 months on the 28th, so I suppose there is still plenty of time!
Beautiful tortoise, I wouldn’t worry about it. You never know, you might wake up one day to find little stumps on him.View attachment 276569 Atlas just completed a major shed on their legs and thighs. I expected to see fresh little spurs developing, but alas, so far they remain quite smooth. Haha. Atlas will be 4 months on the 28th, so I suppose there is still plenty of time!