Marginated tortoise
| Marginated tortoise | |
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| Left: Greek marginated tortoise (T. m. marginata) Right: Sardinian marginated tortoise (T. m. sarda) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Testudo |
| Species: | T. marginata
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| Binomial name | |
| Testudo marginata Schoepff, 1789
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| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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The marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) is a
Taxonomy
The marginated tortoise was formally described by German naturalist Johann David Schoepff in 1789; its specific epithet marginata is a straightforward derivation from the Latin term for 'marginated'.
The
The Sardinian marginated tortoise (T. m. sarda) is the name usually used to separate the
Indeed, it appears to derive from a deliberate introduction by humans.
An
A population of small and light-colored marginated tortoises exists on the southwestern coast of the Peloponnesus, between
Testudo marginata is also closely related to the Greek or
According to the 2005 DNA sequence data,
Description
The marginated tortoise is the largest European tortoise, reaching a weight of up to 5 kg (11 lb) and a length of 35 cm (14 in). Its
Distribution and habitat
The natural range of the marginated tortoise is southern
The marginated tortoise lives in more mountainous regions than Hermann's tortoise. It can be found in elevations as high as 1,600 m (5,200 ft). The black color of the carapace is helpful for survival in this environment, as it allows the tortoise to absorb a great deal of heat in a short time, helping it maintain its
Behaviour
Marginated tortoises are fairly calm and relaxed, although they can be somewhat territorial in the wild. They have a controlled temper and are generally slow to anger. If they are not given the proper diet in captivity, however, they will become rather aggressive and might mistakenly attack if they feel threatened.
Diet
Marginated tortoises are herbivorous, their diets consisting primarily of plants from their native Mediterranean region.
Reproduction
Immediately after waking from
During mating, the female stands still and holds her head to the side, looking up to see the opened mouth of the male. The red tongue apparently serves a signalling function. The female moves her head from left to right in the same rhythm as the male's cries.
Afterwards, the female seeks out an adequate location to lay her eggs. Once such a place is found, the female stands still, propping both front legs firmly against the ground. Then she digs out a hole with her hind legs, alternating between left and right, beginning with simply scratching the ground but eventually moving large quantities of soil which are piled up beside the hole. The depth of the hole is determined by the length of her hind legs. If the ground is too hard to dig, the female releases water from her anal gland to soften it.
Once the hole is dug, egg-laying begins. Each egg is gently rolled back into the hole. After the last egg, the female immediately begins refilling the hole, again using her hind legs. Finally, she stamps the opening closed with her feet so that the ground regains its natural hardness. Larger animals may lay eggs as many as three times per summer, with about 15 eggs per clutch.
The incubation period averages about 100 days under natural conditions, which is relatively short among tortoises. Many tropical tortoises have incubation periods of up to 200 days. The relatively short time is an adaptation to the subtropical Mediterranean climate, where the summers are not as long. In an incubator, this time is notably shorter: with an incubation temperature of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) the eggs will begin hatching after 60 days.
Unlike bird eggs, the
It is possible to see with the naked eye if the eggs are developing healthily. Freshly laid eggs have a gray-white color. Shortly thereafter, a bright white spot forms on the uppermost point of the egg. This spot gradually grows until the entire egg is bright white.
After the embryo has developed fully in the egg, the young animal breaks the shell with its egg tooth from inside, creates a small opening, and for the first time fills its lungs with air. Afterwards, it pulls back into the egg and works on the shell with its beak until it opens completely. In nature, the animal remains below ground for the first two weeks, where it is safe from predators, yet is still able to grow, as it is nourished by the yolk sac. The young animals lead cautious and secretive lives, normally remaining in the shade. They avoid full sunlight because of the great danger of overheating.
Marginated tortoises grow very rapidly. In an ideal biotope, or with good handling, they gain 100–500 g (3.5–17.6 oz) yearly. This quick rate of growth lasts throughout their youth. After the 20th year of life, further growth is minimal. They may live between 100 and 140 years, according to the best estimates of scientists.
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Free at last -
Egg shells with skins -
T. marginata young -
Terrarium for raising young
In captivity
Gallery
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A male T. marginata marginata, identified by the long tail with broad base -
A female T. marginata with a broad-edged carapace: The cloacal opening is visible on the tail. -
A young T. marginata on its back -
Old T. m. sarda -
T. marginata -
Greek tortoise, T. graeca -
Hybrid, T. marginata × T. graeca (father × mother)
See also
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- S2CID 87809001.
- ISBN 978-0-9653540-9-7.
- ^ a b c d Fritz et al. (2005)
- ^ Avise et al. (1992)
- ^ van der Kuyl et al. (2002)
- ^ Georgalis et al. (2013)
- ^ "The fossil record of turtles from the Pleistocene of Crete (Greece)". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 21 (35): 771–799. 2022.
- ^ Fritz et al. (2006)
- ^ van der Kuyl et al. (2002), Fritz et al. (2005)
Bibliography
- Avise John C., Bowen Brian W., Lamb Trip, Meylan Anne B., Bermingham Eldredge (1992). "Mitochondrial DNA evolution at a turtle's pace: evidence for low genetic variability and reduced microevolutionary rate in the Testudines". PMID 1584014.)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Bartlett, Richard; Bartlett, Patricia (1996). Turtles and Tortoises: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual). Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 0-8120-9712-2.
- De Vosjoli, Phillipe (1997). General Care and Maintenance of Popular Tortoises (The Herpetocultural Library Series). Advanced Vivarium Systems. ISBN 1-882770-37-4.
- Fritz Uwe, Kiroký Pavel, Kami Hajigholi, Wink Michael (2005). "Environmentally caused dwarfism or a valid species – Is Testudo weissingeri Bour, 1996 a distinct evolutionary lineage? New evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear genomic markers" (PDF). PMID 16223676.)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Fritz Uwe, Auer Markus, Bertolero Albert, Cheylan Marc, Fattizzo Tiziano, Hundsdörfer Anna K., Sampayo Marcos Martín, Pretus Joan L., Široký Pavel, Wink Michael (2006). "A rangewide phylogeography of Hermann's tortoise, Testudo hermanni (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae): implications for taxonomy" (PDF). S2CID 86110728.)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Georgialis Georgios L., Kear Benjamin P. (2013). "The fossil turtles of Greece: An overview of taxonomy and distribution" (PDF). Geobios. 46 (4): 299–311. .
- Mayer, Richard (1992). Europäische Landschildkröten: Leben - Haltung - Zucht. AVA Agrar Verlag. ISBN 3-924809-10-0. (in German).
- van Dijk, P.P.; Lymberakis, P.; Böhme, W. (2004). "Testudo marginata". . Retrieved 12 November 2021. Listed as Species of Less Concern (LR/lc v2.3).
- van der Kuyl Antoinette C., Ballasina Donato L. Ph., Dekker John T., Maas Jolanda, Willemsen Ronald E., Goudsmit Jaap (2002). "Phylogenetic Relationships among the Species of the Genus Testudo (Testudines: Testudinidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial 12S rRNA Gene Sequences". PMID 11820839.)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
External links
