What subspecies is this impressive dark greek

pan95

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Just received this impressive dark greek tortoise(almost all black).
Seller knows no to little history of the tortoise, i believe he is a male and is big and heavy at about 7.5" - 8" SCL.
I was told he is originally from somewhere in Turkey.
anyone can help with exact subspecies he belongs to?
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nicoleann2214

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zovick

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Just received this impressive dark greek tortoise(almost all black).
Seller knows no to little history of the tortoise, i believe he is a male and is big and heavy at about 7.5" - 8" SCL.
I was told he is originally from somewhere in Turkey.
anyone can help with exact subspecies he belongs to?
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@HermanniChris What species of tortoise is this guy? I am sure you can ID it. Thanks for any info.
 

Yossarian

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I agree it looks like a greek, but how can it have no cervical scute in that case?
 

Sarah2020

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Looks lovely and I agree looks male, if you are a new tortoise owner the care sheets on this forum may help you. Looks like it has been nicely cared for so far.
 

Yossarian

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Without a single doubt, you have a gorgeous, text book Testudo graeca ibera. Most likely from northwestern turkey.

Does this tort have some mutation that it is missing the cervical scute. I know shell mutations are not entirely unheard of but it threw me on this one. Im curious what your thoughts are.
 

pan95

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Does this tort have some mutation that it is missing the cervical scute. I know shell mutations are not entirely unheard of but it threw me on this one. Im curious what your thoughts are.
I would say it is a type of mis scute
 

HermanniChris

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It’s simply missing and we’ve seen both T. graeca ssp. and T. hermanni ssp. lacking them on several occasions. It could simply be genetic or from incubation conditions even in nature.
 
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