Turtle and tortoise experts disagree on whether there are differences between tortoises and turtles. In general turtles live in water and have webbed feet while tortoises live on land and have stumpy legs. For our purposes we’ll use the word tortoise to refer to all land-dwelling shell-bearing reptiles in the Testudines order including turtles.
Both turtles and tortoises can retract their heads into their shells for protection but tortoises cannot swim like turtles can. In fact many tortoises can’t even float.
Tortoises come in many different sizes. The largest the Galapagos tortoise can weigh more than 500 pounds (227 kilograms) and measure more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. The smallest the speckled padloper tortoise is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long and weighs less than a pound (0.5 kilogram).
Greek tortoises are a type of Mediterranean tortoise. They’re popular pets because they stay relatively small (4-10 inches long depending on the subspecies) and have a docile temperament.
There are four subspecies of Greek tortoise:
• The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is the most common. It’s also called the common Greek tortoise or simply the spur-thigh. Spur-thighs have a high domed shell and can grow to be about 10 inches (25 cm) long. They’re found in the wild in southeastern Europe northern Africa and southwestern Asia.
• The Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is slightly smaller than the spur-thigh with a flatter shell. It’s found in the wild in southern Europe and northwestern Africa. Hermann’s tortoises come in several different shell colors and patterns including black brown yellow and striped.
• The marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) is the third most common Greek tortoise. It’s similar in size and appearance to the Hermann’s tortoise but its shell has a distinctive scalloped margin. Marginated tortoises are found in the wild in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.
• The fourth and final Greek tortoise is the Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii). It’s also called the Central Asian tortoise the Steppe tortoise or the Horsfield’s tortoise. Russian tortoises grow to be about 6 inches (15 cm) long and have a high domed shell. They’re found in the wild in Central Asia and southeastern Europe.
As you can see Greek tortoises come in a wide range of sizes depending on the subspecies. If you’re thinking of getting a Greek tortoise as a pet do your research to find out which subspecies is the best fit for you.
How big do Greek tortoises get?
Answer: An adult Greek tortoise can grow to be 12-18 inches long.
How much does a Greek tortoise weigh?
Answer: An adult Greek tortoise can weigh up to 15 pounds.
What is the lifespan of a Greek tortoise?
Answer: Greek tortoises can live up to 50 years in captivity.
What do Greek tortoises eat?
Answer: Greek tortoises are herbivores and their diet consists of grasses weeds leafy greens and flowers.
Where do Greek tortoises live?
Answer: Greek tortoises are found on the Greek islands of Crete Karpathos and Kasos.
They are also found on the Turkish island of Gokceada.
What is the natural habitat of a Greek tortoise?
Answer: The natural habitat of a Greek tortoise is a dry rocky area with little vegetation.
How do Greek tortoises reproduce?
Answer: Greek tortoises are oviparous meaning they lay eggs.
The female tortoise will lay 3-5 eggs in a nest that she has dug in the ground.
What is the incubation period for Greek tortoise eggs?
Answer: The incubation period for Greek tortoise eggs is 60-90 days.
What is the average clutch size for a Greek tortoise?
Answer: The average clutch size for a Greek tortoise is 3-5 eggs.
How long does it take for a Greek tortoise to reach sexual maturity?
Answer: It takes a Greek tortoise about 5-7 years to reach sexual maturity.
Do Greek tortoises hibernate?
Answer: Yes Greek tortoises hibernate in the winter.
How deep do Greek tortoises dig their burrows?
Answer: Greek tortoises typically dig burrows that are 1-2 feet deep.
How long do Greek tortoises stay in their burrows?
Answer: Greek tortoises can stay in their burrows for long periods of time up to several months.
What is the temperature range that Greek tortoises can tolerate?
Answer: Greek tortoises can tolerate a temperature range of 50-95 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the average lifespan of a Greek tortoise in the wild?
Answer: The average lifespan of a Greek tortoise in the wild is 20-30 years.
