What kind of tortoise am I?

Hello,
So this is my second post here. In my first I was inquiring on the dark spots atop my tortoises shell. I stated in the post that he was a sulcata because the animal shelter we adopted him from 3 months ago told me that’s what he was. Being a first time tort owner I didn’t question it. Til now. I received more response to the fact that he was not a sulcata rather than my original question (which did get answered).
So now I’m very curious to know just what kind of tortoise our guy Taco is. I want to make sure that we are accommodating him according to his breed specific needs. This is my primary reason for asking. I truly could care less if he is a very rare breed or a mixed “mutt” of sorts. He is a joy and pleasure to have around and we are so glad he became part of our family either way.
Thank you in advance for any feedback and insight.
Ps I currently have a call/ email in to our local turtle and tortoise society but wanted a broader range of opinions.
Janelle

Desert tortoise

Yes.
Some gopherus species.
How could they have misidentified it that badly?

Desert tortoise.
As far as his shell, it all looks normal to me. Any dark spots I see is just coloring.

He's just not the right shape for a desert tortoise. I voted for Chaco, however he's not exactly right for that species either.
@Markw84 @tortadise @HermanniChris

Yvonne G said:

He's just not the right shape for a desert tortoise. I voted for Chaco, however he's not exactly right for that species either.
@Markw84 @tortadise @HermanniChris

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At first look, I thought maybe a mix. DT and a Sulcata mix?

wellington said:

At first look, I thought maybe a mix. DT and a Sulcata mix?

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That was my first guess on the previous thread. It has the head, legs, and eyes of a desert tortoise, and the shell color and shape of a sulcata.

So the SD Turtle and Tortoise society agree with you Yvonne G. They said they believed him to be a Chaco as well without any mention from me of what was suggested on here. Charming and completely chill with a ton of personality must be signature traits of whatever he may be.

Tacomytort said:

So the SD Turtle and Tortoise society agree with you Yvonne G. They said they believed him to be a Chaco as well without any mention from me of what was suggested on here. Charming and completely chill with a ton of personality must be signature traits of whatever he may be.

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Very cool! Glad you finally know for sure! [emoji106][emoji16]

I'm not sure I agree... Its hard to tell for sure from these pictures but the aberrant front marginals really make it hard to be sure. The overall appearance and head look more berlandierii to me as well as the gular shape and front vertebral/front marginal shapes. Overall color look chaco and the light brown iris makes the head look very distinctive as that is so unusual.

Could you post a picture from straight above, also from above, but behind, and the plastron?

Markw84 said:

I'm not sure I agree... Its hard to tell for sure from these pictures but the aberrant front marginals really make it hard to be sure. The overall appearance and head look more berlandierii to me as well as the gular shape and front vertebral/front marginal shapes. Overall color look chaco and the light brown iris makes the head look very distinctive as that is so unusual.

Could you post a picture from straight above, also from above, but behind, and the plastron?

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I'm not familiar with the Chaco in real life, however, I do have desert tortoises and Texas tortoises. Desert tortoises are the only ones I've ever seen with eyes like Tacomytort, plus Tacomytort has the swollen chin glands like desert tortoises get. But he has enlarged front leg scales like a Chaco and his body shape and color is like a Chaco.

Ok Markw84 hope these photos help.

I don’t think this photo really
shows it but some of the patches of skin on his legs are almost a light orange in color.

Whatever he is, he’s a beautiful tort and looks like a great new family memeber.. Congrats!

Wow your tort is beautiful I love it whatever species it is. Maybe a mix? Looks so unique.

This is not a clear one for me. The look and shape of the head is definitely desert tortoise. They eyes are desert tortoise. I have never seen a chaco nor pictures of chacos with those distinctive eyes with the lighter iris. If I saw a picture only of the head, I would say it was desert tortoise for sure.

The color looks more chaco, but I have seen desert tortoises that are quite orange and look like that.

The scales on the front legs look a bit large for a desert tortoise, but not large enough for a chaco. Especially over the front of the front leg towards the main joint - where you would normally see enlarged scales on a chaco.

What I can't ignore and seem most telling - The front marginals are desert tortoise. Although aberrant, they do from a distinct margin all along the front and create a wide border between the neck and first vertebral. A chaco has a distinct "V" to the front edge of the first vetebral that extends to the edge of the shell at the neck. Although the marginals are aberrant, I wouldn't expect that to ever change the way the marginal border is so wide all across the neck. The first vetebral would touch the shell edge in a chaco. So even the shape and almost straight edge to the front of the first vertebral is certainly desert tortoise.

The rear plastron does look chaco. The femoral is much smaller and chaco-like in particular. However, it looks like the rear portion of the plastron is a little deformed by early growth. So this isn't a clear indicator.

If it wasn't just so hard to believe, I could think this a cross between a chaco and desert tortoise!?!?

All things considered, I think you have a desert tortoise!

Interesting. So here’s a question for you. Since we got him in May and nothing was known about him at all how do I know if he hibernates or not? Chacos are known to hibernate and I’m wondering how I will know if it’s something he’s done in the past years or not.

He'll stop eating and only come out to sun himself then go back in. My desert tortoises are still eating, so it's not time yet. But because he's new to you I would try to set him up indoors and keep him awake this winter.

I'll throw my vote in for desert tortoise. Doesn't look that chaco-like to me, especially with the top down photos.

Gopherus morafkai to my eye, and because of those eyes. Shell color and pattern can just be so variable in tortoises. Plus this one looks very clean and perhaps wet which might be throwing us off. There must be some distinct morphological features that differentiate Chaco tortoises as being members of the genus Chelonoidis that could easily eliminate this from being a Chaco. I just don’t happen to know those....