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The Tortuga Gazette and Education Since 1964 Volume 55, Number 2 • March/April 2019

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The Tortuga Gazette and Education Since 1964 Volume 55, Number 2 • March/April 2019 Dedicated to CALIFORNIA TURTLE & TORTOISE CLUB Turtle & Tortoise Conservation, Preservation the Tortuga Gazette and Education Since 1964 Volume 55, Number 2 • March/April 2019 Adult pair of Hermann’s tortoises with a 1-foot (30-centimeter) ruler for scale. Hermann’s tortoise, Testudo hermanni Hermann’s Tortoise: History and Care text and photographs by Ralph Hoekstra y interest in tortoises began not a desert tortoise (Gopherus They charged at each other in­ M in 1975 when our pastor gave agassizii), but that it was definitely tending to ram their opponent. Just me a tortoise his children found a female Hermann’s tortoise (Te- before they collided, each would walking down their street. His chil­ studo hermanni). We named her pull her head back into her shell. dren wanted to keep it, but it was “Shelley.” Both desert tortoises found new eating the plants in their mother’s Shelley shared our backyard for homes. Note: this is a common mis­ vegetable garden. I volunteered to a short time with two desert tor­ take made by many new tortoise take the tortoise off of their hands toises that were found walking keepers. Tortoises so distinct­ and thus began my 35-plus years on nearby streets by neighbors. ly different should never be kept with tortoises. I took the tortoise to Shelley did not want to share her together. a California Turtle & Tortoise Club/ territory and neither did one of the Range Description Orange County Chapter show to desert tortoises, a female. Both This species occurs in Mediter­ get it identified. I was told it was claimed my yard as their territory. ranean Europe, from coastal 2 Tortuga Gazette 55(2) • March/April 2019 C Hermann’s Tortoise: History and Care by Ralph Hoekstra 1 O Mike's Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. 6 N 155 Captive­Reared Tortoises Released on Santa Fe Island Ingestion of Stones, Bones, Fossils, and Soil by Turtles by M. A. Cohen 8 T Meetings and Programs 11 E The female park rangers protecting turtles from traffickers in Nicaragua 12 N by Monica Pelliccia T TOOSLO Chapter Changes Its Meeting Day and Location 17 S Female Tortoise Found on Fernandina Island In 1976 Shelley would have been distribution. However, occasionally identified as Testudo herman- there are some in their collections ni hermanni and could trace her from the western range, the T. h. heritage to the eastern popula­ hermanni. tion of Hermann tortoises and Testudo hermanni hermanni more specifically to Bulgaria. In 1976 the western subspecies was identified asT. hermanni robertmertensii. The French, or Western race of Fig. 1. Shelley with the two desert tortoises. Hermann’s tortoise was known as Testudo hermanni robert- northeastern Spain, through south­ mertensi Wermuth 1952. Work eastern France, Mallorca (Spain), by Roger Bour (1987) has Menorca (Spain), Corsica (France), demonstrated that these at­ Sardinia (including Asinara Island) tributions are erroneous, and and Sicily (Italy), the coastal plains that the nominotypical spe­ Fig. 2. Carapace view of two Testudo hermanni hermanni. of peninsular Italy, coastal Croa­ cies is actually that of southern tia, coastal Bosnia­Herzegovina, France, previously referred to T. h. A distinctive characteristic found coastal Montenegro, central and robertmertensi. on T. h. hermanni are the pairs of southern Serbia, inland to south­ dark bands found on their plastrons. western Romania, much of Bulgaria, Two subspecies are currently rec­ ognized, T. h. hermanni and T. h. Nearly all of the scutes on their Macedonia, nearly all of Albania, the plastron will be black. Greek mainland plus islands from boettgeri (includes hercegovin- 2 Corfu to Zakynthos, and European ensis). Turkey. Records from Cyprus are Physical Differences be- likely to be in error (van Dijk, P.P., tween the Subspecies Corti, C., Mellado, V.P. & Cheylan, M. Both subspecies have the 2004). horned­tipped tail and most Testudo hermanni Hermann’s tortoises have a split Subspecies caudal scute, the scute above Gmelin first described the Her­ their tail. Hermann’s tortois­ mann’s Tortoise in 1789. The sci ­­­­ es are found in the collections entific name of this species is Te- of many tortoise enthusiasts. studo hermanni. 1 Most of these pet tortoises are from the eastern range of their Fig. 3. Plastron view of two Testudo hermanni hermanni. 1 The tortoise we now recognize as Testudo her- manni was first described by J. F. Gmelin in 1789 2 T. h. hermanni can also be found in within the 13th edition of the Systema Naturae Highfield, A.C. Notes on the Systematics and (Amphibia et Pisces). Ecology of Testudo hermanni Gmelin 1789. Italy, and individuals from this group 3 Tortuga Gazette 55(2) • March/April 2019 are also found in the pet trade. Southern California. They will need Tortoises of the Testudo graeca Their adult size is identical to the a dry place to sleep, preferably in a complex (Greek tortoises) should French cousins; the main difference heated, predator­proof house. never be kept with Hermann’s tor­ is that their carapace colorization is Their pen should be as es­ toises, or for that matter, with any 3 not as intense. cape­proof as possible with other species of tortoises. Testudo hermanni boettgeri low­growing shrubbery for hid­ The males of the T. graeca complex ing and to get out of the have an insatiable desire to ram sun for managing their body other tortoises using their guttur­ temperatures. al (i.e., gular) scutes. The shells of They require access to water Hermann’s tortoises cannot with­ for drinking, soaking, and elimi­ stand this onslaught. nation of urates, the semi­solid, Diet white substance excreted from Hermann’s tortoises are largely her­ the cloaca. bivores and will eat grasses, leaves, Tortoises are ‘programmed’ not fruits and flowers. Bermuda grass to use water in the bladder to seems to be their preference. Grape Plastron view of a large pair of Testudo hermanni boett- eliminate these urates unless leaves are devoured. Pink, double geri. The carapace view of these tortoises is on page 1. replenishment is available. De­ hibiscus flowers are their favorite. This diet can be supplemented with The eastern subspecies has been priving the tortoise of water will given the nomenclature T. h. boett- result in urates geri. They are separated without being accumulated, subspecies separation into two often to dangerous 4 families, based on size and appear­ levels. ance. The larger of the two groups A common ques­ are commonly referred to as “Bul­ tion we hear is this: garian Giants.” They are called “Can I keep other “giants” because they can achieve tortoise species a carapace length of 14 inches (357 with my Hermann’s millimeters). “Shelley” was 11 inches tortoise?” Keepers (280 millimeters). of Mediterranean These groups of Hermann’s tor­ tortoises, includ­ toises are those most commonly ing myself, have held by tortoise enthusiasts. I have kept the Margin­ had both of these groups in my ated tortoise (T. collection. marginata) with Hermann’s tor­ Husbandry toises with no ill Shelley succumbed to pneumonia effects. in 1984 as a result of a freak rain­ storm that dropped 10 inches (25 Mrs. Lillian Greene, centimeters) of rain in three hours. a long­time leg­ I found her stretched full length end in Southern against a planter in 10 inches of California tortoise water. She was in this position for lore, kept all of her hours, and, sadly, I didn’t bring her in species in sepa­ for medical care. rate pens with the lone exception of An enclosure housing Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) and Mar- In 1990 I was able to acquire more Hermann’s and Hermann’s tortoises. I also obtained ginated tortoises (T.marginata) featuring numerous hiding places and Marginated tortois­ plenty of plant cover. enough knowledge to adequately es. They were kept care for their needs. in the same pen for many years. I high quality greens, such as endive, Hermann’s tortoises can live out­ remember one spunky, small male escarole, dandelions and mustard doors year­round where I live in Hermann’s tortoise almost acting greens. They are fond of cooked as a referee for a Marginated tor­ 3 Personal observation of an individual purchased toise male­to­male combat. 4 Highfield, A.C. Tortoises: Do They Need to Drink? from a breeder. 4 Tortuga Gazette 55(2) • March/April 2019 and sliced orange yams. Servings of Caldarelli had a friend who was stay like this in the incubator until fruit such as loquats or cantaloupe seeking qualified buyers for the the egg sac is fully absorbed. In are eaten with enthusiasm. progeny produced by her pair of the meantime I get a terrarium set Breeding and Mating Hermann’s tortoises. I purchased up for them. Their new home will a two­year­old female and be a terrarium with a substrate of a one­year­old male. I kept 50/50 peat moss and ground coco­ them in the same pen for a nut fiber (coir). year. I learned the hard way After a few days I start feeding the when Hermann’s tortois­ hatchlings high quality greens and es achieve adulthood. The Opuntia cactus. About 2 or 3 times pair had mated and produced a week their food is sprinkled with a clutch of two live babies. reptile vitamins and calcium. They Sadly, one drowned in a water will need regular soakings and be dish and the other died trying kept warm. I tried to keep a tem­ Plastron view of two recently hatched Hermann’s tortoises to get out of the nest. with a U.S. quarter for scale.
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