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Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise

Testudo graeca subsp. ibera

Description:

Testudo graeca is one of five species of Mediterranean tortoise (genus Testudo, family Testudinidae). It is a threatened species considered vulnerable to extinction according the IUCN Red List. Some of the main charateristics in order to distinguish it from Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) are: Notable spurs on each thigh (see photo 3), undivided carapace over the tail (see photo 2) and large scales on the front legs (see photo 1).

Habitat:

Spotted on a forest road in Seih-Sou, the suburban forest of Thessaloniki (Greece).

Notes:

Greek common name: Ελληνική χελώνα (Greek Tortoise). Common names are quite confusing: Testudo hermanni is "Greek Tortoise" in EOL and Testudo graeca ibera is "Asia Minor Tortoise" in EOL while Testudo graeca is "Greek Tortoise" in Wikipedia.

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KostasZontanos
Spotted by
KostasZontanos

Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Μακεδονίας - Θράκης, Greece

Spotted on Sep 15, 2016
Submitted on Sep 16, 2016

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