what is the species of my tortoises?!

[Athcc]

this are my tortoises I knew they are a Greek tortoises. but I want a specific details about what breed are they.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Tortoises are defined by species, not breeds. Breeds are variations of domesticated animals that are all the same species.

In order for @HermanniChris to tell you definitively which subspecies you've got there, he will probably ask for some plastron pics of each one.

 

[Athcc]

Hello and welcome. Tortoises are defined by species, not breeds. Breeds are variations of domesticated animals that are all the same species.

In order for @HermanniChris to tell you definitively which subspecies you've got there, he will probably ask for some plastron pics of each one.

sorry I'm not a native English speaker.
thank you very much.
what do I have to do now?

 

[Ben02]

sorry I'm not a native English speaker.
thank you very much.
what do I have to do now?

If you take a picture of the underside/bottom of the shell it will help @HermanniChris identify what type of Greeks you have.

 

[Tom]

sorry I'm not a native English speaker.
thank you very much.
what do I have to do now?

Your English is great! You're doing fine.

 

[Markw84]

Those are Hermann's tortoises. Western Hermann's. Testudo hermanni hermanni

 

[Athcc]

Those are Hermann's tortoises. Western Hermann's. Testudo hermanni hermanni

which one which?

 

[Athcc]

If you take a picture of the underside/bottom of the shell it will help @HermanniChris identify what type of Greeks you have.

ok when I return home I'll take the pictures. thanks.

 

[Athcc]

]really?? [emoji32][emoji33][emoji33]
the pet shop my husband bought them from said they are Greek.

but then again tortoises are not common here so I think he didn't know about them.

he also said that the small one is female and the bigger one is a male.
now I'm not so sure about that [emoji45][emoji30]

 

[Athcc]

Those are Hermann's tortoises. Western Hermann's. Testudo hermanni hermanni

According to Mark's post above, both tortoises are western hermanns (Testudo hermanni hermanni), not Greeks.

are they?!
they have different shell color.
the bigger one is darker.

 

[Markw84]

The smaller one could be a greek. It looks like it but can't see it too well. That's why we need pictures. Top, Rear view, and bottom. A hermann's will have a divided supracaudal scute. A greek will not. The pattern looks more greek on the smaller. I would think your smaller one does not have a divided supracaudal. The plastral pattern will tell too.

 

[HermanniChris]

You have 2 Testudo graeca ibera, no doubt about it. Beautiful, classic animals.

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, that pretty much settles that!!

 

[Markw84]

I guess I still don't have the hang of the Testudos !!!!

 

[Tom]

I guess I still don't have the hang of the Testudos !!!!

I thought they looked pretty Hermanni too, if its any consolation...

 

[HermanniChris]

No worries guys, ibera can have very distinct “hermanni type” markings. That yellow ground color with black contrast is what gives the look normally associated with Hermann’s but in fact it’s very classic for ibera to look like this. Most turn nearly a uniform black as they age though. Still, true western Hermann’s have an arrangement and contrast to their carapace markings that sets them apart from any other Testudo.

 

[Yvonne G]

I guess I still don't have the hang of the Testudos !!!!

Me neither, Mark. I've studied Chris's pictures and explanations and I just don't get it!

 

[HermanniChris]

I think we should organize a TFO trip to my place. I think once you all see some of these Testudo in person and hold them it will click immediately. [emoji5]

 

[Ben02]

I think we should organize a TFO trip to my place. I think once you all see some of these Testudo in person and hold them it will click immediately. [emoji5]

All my Greek babies have yellow markings on their heads. Is this exclusive to Greeks or do Hermanns have them as well?

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

I think we should organize a TFO trip to my place. I think once you all see some of these Testudo in person and hold them it will click immediately. [emoji5]

I know I'm game for that! Though I'm working on getting ALL the Greek subspecies and locales to raise and breed so I can specialize in them. Been learning a lot from you, and I'm very grateful for it [emoji16]