Gosh Darn! What is she?

[Skyler Nell]

I have been so frustrated! I cannot figure out what species of tortoise this little girl is. I'm not sure on her age. She is missing the scute above her head and has a little fat, stumpy tail. She is oddly light in color!

Thanks!

 

[Fernando]

TT ? :/

Where did you find her? How come I can't find tortoises!!!

 

[Skyler Nell]

TT ? :/

Where did you find her? How come I can't find tortoises!!!

That was my best guess too, considering it's size and lack of that scute, but its head is on the smaller size and her eyes are pretty big, plus it's tail is chubby, looks kinda like a greek tail(just for comparison sake), and its really light in color.

She isn't mine! A friend asked me to come over and take a look at their torts, they have a larger Desert tortoise and then this little one :/ I was stumped!

 

[Fernando]

I've heard of hybrids w/ these. One of the forum members here has one...but Yeah...Idk

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

Looks like a dog chewed on her shell PS Sorry I don't know what type

 

[TylerStewart]

Is the lack of the nuchal scute the reason we don't think it's a desert tortoise? It looks like a desert tortoise to me. It doesn't look like anything I have, and I have just about everything besides desert tortoises.

 

[Kristina]

Just because it has no nuchal does not mean it can't be a DT. I have a Home's Hingeback without a nuchal and it is still a Home's Hingeback, lol. Just wanted to remind everyone of that...

 

[Fernando]

Oh I see. So is it a DT?

 

[Skyler Nell]

But the scaling on the arms, head shape, eye size and coloring also make me think this isn't a DT. Doesn't look like any I've ever seen. And I've probably seen close to 40 different DT's in person, ranging in sizes.
Fernando- I think you might be onto something with your hybrid suggestion

 

[Yvonne G]

Do a GOOGLE image search for chaco tortoise. I think that may be what it is. The spurs on the front legs are too big for either texas or desert.

 

[Fernando]

The head on this tortoise looks a little thicker or bulkier then the Chaco tortoises I'm looking at.

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except maybe for this one

 

[TylerStewart]

The possibility of it being a Chaco tortoise are so very slim that it makes it something I wouldn't even bother considering. Texas torts are well documented not to have the nuchal, and DT's (like was said) don't always have it. It doesn't look Testudo to me at all, and there's very few other things there's even a chance of it being. I still think it's DT, Gopher or Texas tort (all look very similar to that). Its head looks huge in the third photo, but doesn't in the other two.

 

[Neal]

Chocolate Tortoise.

 

[Kristina]

Mmmmmm.

(Haven't eaten in awhile )

 

[ascott]

I don't think it is a Desert Tortoise? I do know she has such a sad little look on her face Was she just found? Poor little thing being mistaken for a chew toy....

 

[Skyler Nell]

Yvonne- When I first saw it I said the same thing!!! I'm like I may be crazy but it reminds me of a chaco tortoise! haha. Any other opinions on what she could be? Or what mix you think it may be of?

Just some background. This is a friend of mine's tortoise. It is very well cared for now, is all outdoor with lots of space to roam. The shell damage is from a long time ago when the girl escaped her yard and was picked up by a dog. The tortoise was given to my friend 2 or 3 years ago and has only grown slightly which makes me think it is an adult.

Thanks for all your input thus far everyone!

 

[-EJ]

If the person who listed it listed it as a chaco... it's a chaco. It does look like a chaco. Those chacos raised in the US or in captivity in general were notorious for pyramiding.

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I'd say Chaco... can you say where you obtained the tortoise?

I have been so frustrated! I cannot figure out what species of tortoise this little girl is. I'm not sure on her age. She is missing the scute above her head and has a little fat, stumpy tail. She is oddly light in color!
Thanks!

 

[Yvonne G]

Just a note of explanation to those newer members. -EJ hasn't been posting much lately, but he is an excellent resource here on the forum. If I'm not mistaken, he also has Chaco tortoises of his own. You can take it to the bank...what he said. Thank you, -EJ.

 

[egyptiandan]

I agree with Ed it is a Chaco tortoise. Can we get a pictures of the plastron and tail as it looks like a male to me.

Danny

 

[Laura]

LOVE the big eyes!!!!!
DANNY!!!! welcome home!