Marginated Tortoise
Testudo marginata sarda
Conservation status
Least concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Family: Testudinidae Genus: Testudo Species: T. marginata
Binomial name
Testudo marginata Schoepf, 1789

The Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata) is the largest European tortoise, reaching a weight of up to 5 kg (11 pounds) and a length of 35 cm (14 inches). Its shell is oblong and has a notable thickness around the middle of the body. The posterior end of the shell has a saw-like formation, flanged outward like a bell. The carapace of adult specimens is almost completely black, with yellow highlights. The ventral shell is lighter coloured and has pairs of triangular markings with the points facing the rear of the animal. The front sides of the limbs are covered with large scales. In old female specimens, the rear flaps of the underside of the plastron are somewhat moveable. The tail is notable for a lengthwise marking and for an undivided carapace over the tail. Males have a longer tail, which is thicker at the base than the females. Their underside is more strongly indented. Males are also often larger than the females. The females lay their hard-shelled spherical eggs in the soil in May and June. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 458 KB)Sardinian Marginated Tortoise - Testudo marginata sarda Photo by Richard Mayer. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... “Animalia” redirects here. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... Families See text Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudinata, most of whose body is shielded by a special bony shell developed from their ribs. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the band, see Tortoise (band). ... [[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]] {{{diversity}}} Binomial name {{{binomial}}} Trinomial name {{{trinomial}}} Type Species {{{type_species}}} Species [[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]] Synonyms {{{synonyms}}} Testudo is a genus of tortoises found in North Africa, Asia, and Europe. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal system of naming species. ... Johann David Schoepff. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Various seashells Danielle A shell is the hard, rigid outer covering, or integument, allanimals. ... Portable saw A saw is a tool for cutting wood or other material, consisting of a serrated blade (a blade with the cutting edge dentated or toothed) and worked either by hand or by steam, water, electric or other power. ... A bell is a simple sound-making device. ... The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ... Black cat, thought by some to cause bad luck (see superstition) Black is the shade of objects that do not reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum. ... A yellow Tulip. ... In this SEM image of a butterfly wing the scales are clearly visible, and the tiny platelets on each individual scale are just barely visible in the striping. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a tortoise, what we would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones. ... A scorpion tail The tail is the section at the rear end of an animals body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. ... The shield and spear of the Roman god Mars, which is also the alchemical symbol for iron, represents the male sex. ... For other uses, see sphere (disambiguation). ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland Technically, Soil forms the pedosphere: the interface between the lithosphere (rocky part of the planet) and the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. ...

Habitat and feeding habits

Close up of forearms and head, showing the particularly large scales.

The natural range of the Marginated Tortoise is southern Greece, from the Peloponnesus to Mount Olympus. They are also found in isolated zones of the Balkans and Italy, with a somewhat broader range in northeastern Sardinia. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 268 KB)Close up of head and arm of a Marginated Tortoise. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 268 KB)Close up of head and arm of a Marginated Tortoise. ... Peloponnesos (Greek: Πελοπόννησος, sometime Latinized as Peloponnesus or Anglicized as The Peloponnese) is a large peninsula in Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Isthmus of Corinth. ... This article is about the Greek mountain. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sardinia (pronounced ; Italian: ; Sardinian: or Sardinnya) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). ...

The Marginated Tortoise lives in more mountainous regions than Herman's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni). It can be found in elevations as high as 1,600 m (5,250 feet). 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 body temperature. Early in the morning, Marginated Tortoises bask in the sun to raise their body temperature, and then search for food. After feeding, the tortoises return to their shelters in the hot midday hours, leaving them again in the late afternoon. Binomial name Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789 The Hermanns Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is one of seven tortoise species in the genus Testudo, along with the Marginated Tortoise () and the Greek Tortoise (). Two subspecies are known: the Western Hermanns Tortoise () and the Eastern Hermanns Tortoise (). A new work [1... The or meter (see spelling differences) is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ...

Marginated Tortoises are very strict herbivores and the food source consists primarily of plants from their native Mediterranean region. In captivity, the primary foodstuffs are dandelions, clover, salad leaves such as rocket or watercress, and also leaves from plantain, radish, and crowfoot plants. Sometimes even grass and hay will be eaten. The feeding of fruit and tomatoes is to be discouraged as they may cause diarrhea. Lettuce will be eagerly devoured, but owing to its low nutrient value should not generally be given. Protein levels in the diet should be kept very low and in no account should they be given sources of animal protein such as meat, snails, worms, and cat, dog or terrapine food. Species See text A dandelion is a flower. ... Species See text Clover is my sisters name! Clover (Trifolium) is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the pea family Fabaceae. ... Leafy arugula Arugula, also known as rocket, garden rocket, rocket salad, rugola, rucola and roquette[1], is a type of leaf vegetable, which looks like a longer leaved and open lettuce. ... Species Nasturtium nasturtium-aquaticum L. Nasturtium microphyllum Boenn ex Rchb. ... Binomial name Raphanus sativus L. The radish (Raphanus sativus) is an edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that is domesticated and consumed throughout the world. ...

Additionally they should be given dailly calcium supplements that are essential for a correct shell development. A mixture of various calclium salts is best, mainly calcium lactate, and carbonate, with no phosporus content.

Phosporus inhibts absorption of calcium and so a high phosporus content in the diet my cause shell pyramiding even though calcium supplements are given on a daily basis.

Subspecies and related species

T. marginata marginata (left) and T. marginata sarda (right).

Greek and Sardinian shape of the carapace.

The primary subspecies of Testudo marginata is Testudo marginata marginata (Schoepf, 1789), described above. Two additional varieties are generally mentioned in connection with the marginated tortoise. Testudo marginata sarda (Mayer, 1992) is a separate population in Sardinia. This subspecies has less strongly bent tiles in the posterior of the carapace, and the posterior of the carapace is almost smooth compared with the saw-like Testudo marginata marginata. Download high resolution version (1800x1164, 578 KB)Testudo marginata marginata and Testudo marginata sarda side by side. ... Download high resolution version (1800x1164, 578 KB)Testudo marginata marginata and Testudo marginata sarda side by side. ... Image File history File links Diagram showing the difference in shape of the carapace of the subspecies of Marginated Tortoise. ... Image File history File links Diagram showing the difference in shape of the carapace of the subspecies of Marginated Tortoise. ...

A particularly small variation of the marginated tortoise was discovered in the southwestern part of the Pelopponesus. However, the Dwarf Marginated Tortoise is not a subspecies, but rather a related species in the same genus (Testudo weissingeri, Bour, 1996).

Testudo marginata is also closely related to the Greek Tortoise or Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca). Both have very similar bodily characteristics, for example, an oblong carapace, large scales on the front legs, large covering for the head and cone-like scales on the upper thigh, undivided tail covering, moveable stomach plates, and lack of a tail spike. Presumably, Testudo marginata evolved from Testudo graeca as a population more suited for life in the mountainous regions. Evidence in favor of this is the wide geographical region and the extremely large number of subspecies of Testudo graeca, including a subspecies in Turkey with strongly bent carapace tiles, like the Marginated Tortoise. Testudo marginata on the other hand, despite the two subspecies, presents a much more unified appearance, which points toward an earlier appearance in evolutionary history. In captivity, the two species often cross-breed. Binomial name Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 The Greek Tortoise or Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) is one of four European members of the Testudinidae family of tortoises. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

Mating and reproduction

Immediately after waking from hibernation the mating instinct starts up. The males follow the females with great interest, encircling them, biting them on the limbs, ramming them, and trying to mount them. During copulation, the male opens his mouth, showing his red tongue and making loud cries. The tone of the copulation cry is almost sobbing with long, deep tones, in contrast to Testudo hermanni, in which there is a much higher-toned peeping noise. This article refers to the process of hibernation in biology. ... A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ...

During mating, the female stands still and holds her head to the side, looking up to see the opened mouth of the male. It appears that the red tongue 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. In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ...

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.

Two marginated tortoises mating. Download high resolution version (978x734, 269 KB)Two Marginated Tortoises mating. ... Sevenspotted Lady Beetles mating In biology, mating is the pairing of opposite-sex or hermaphroditic internal fertilization animals for copulation and, in social animals, also to raise their offspring. ...

Building a nest. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 345 KB)Marginated tortoise building a nest. ... A basket style nest A nest is place of refuge built to hold an animals eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring. ...

Burrow for eggs. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 380 KB)Tortoise burrow. ...

Incubation and hatching

A Marginated Tortoise emerges into the world.

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 (89 °F) the eggs will begin hatching after 60 days. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1204x1204, 318 KB) A baby tortoise hatchling emerges from its shell. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1204x1204, 318 KB) A baby tortoise hatchling emerges from its shell. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ...

Unlike bird eggs, the yolk and albumen of reptile eggs are not separated by a membrane. After a few days, the heavy yolk components sink to the bottom of the egg. On top of this floats the embryonal disk, surrounded by albumen. For this reason the tortoise eggs cannot be turned after the yolk settles without damaging or killing the embryo. The egg yolk is the yellow inside an egg. ... Albumen redirects here. ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... It has been suggested that embryology be merged into this article or section. ...

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 fill 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. Here 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. An egg tooth is not a true tooth, but a small horny protruberance on the beak or nose of vertebrates that are hatched from eggs, ie: birds and reptiles. ... Human respiratory system The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ...

Marginated Tortoises grow very rapidly. In an ideal biotope, or with good handling, they gain 100–500 g (4–17 oz) yearly. This quick rate of growth lasts throughout their youth. After the twentieth year of life, further growth is minimal. They may live to between 100 and 140 years, according to the best estimates of scientists. Biotope is a coined word proposed firstly in Germany (Biotop) based on Greek bios=life or organism and topos=place. So biotope is literally an area where life is living. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... The ounce (abbreviation: oz) is the name of a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of mass that form part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Free at last Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1944x1388, 1157 KB) Beschreibung: Breitrandschildkröte (Testudo marginata), Schlüpfling Fotograf: Mayer Richard first upload in de wikipedia on 10:31, 22. ...

Testudo marginata young ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1091x821, 137 KB) Foto by Richard Mayer,Testudo marginata, GNU-FDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Egg shells with skins Tortoise egg shells with skins. ...

Terrarium. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2446x1841, 804 KB) Photo von Richard Mayer I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ...

In captivity

The tell-tale tail. The carapace protecting the tail is not divided, as in most tortoises.

Download high resolution version (1280x960, 502 KB)The tell-tale tail of a Marginated Tortoise. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 502 KB)The tell-tale tail of a Marginated Tortoise. ...

In a terrarium

Tortoises can thrive in captivity if the owner understands their needs well. A heat lamp is attached to the tortoise's table, directed in such a way that the 60-watt reflector bulb is some 15–20 cm (6–8 in) from the floor of the table, which is covered with about 5 cm of substraite, loam based soil and play sand. When the lamp is turned on in the morning, the animals emerge from the ground, bask in the light to warm themselves, and begin to eat. They should be fed several times a day with clover, dandelions and garden weeds (check first as a few are harmful. Some owners give pellet food occasionally, these should be avoided, only feed your tortoise what they would naturally eat in the wild, their digestive systems do not cope well with protein, of which there is a lot in pellet foods. The animals also require ultraviolet light, thus they should be allowed to bask in the sunlight daily, but for only a short period of time. In the summer, they can be taken outdoors for this purpose, in the winter if not hybernated they need access to UVB light every day. Care must be taken to avoid allowing the tortoise to overheat (use a digital thermometer to keep a check). This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The watt (symbol: W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule per second. ... Note: Ultraviolet is also the name of a 1998 UK television miniseries about vampires. ... The Sun (Latin: Sol) is the star at the center of the Solar System. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ...

Outdoors

The oblong marking at the tail is a characteristic of this tortoise living on the edge of the marsh.

In temperate zones, Marginated Tortoises can be kept outside from approximately mid-March to October. Their pen should be in the sunniest place in the garden, preferably close to the house. It is important to provide a wooden house where they can get into the shade. They should be provided enough gravel that they can completely bury themselves when needed. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Gravel being unloaded from a barge Gravel is rock that is of a certain grain size range. ...

The animals will leave the house in the morning, warm themselves, and eat. Afterwards, they return to the house. In the late afternoon, they will reemerge from their shelter. Tortoises do not need as much sunlight as many assume is required for a reptile. By October, they will take longer and longer pauses during the day. At this point, they should be transferred into a roomy crate filled with dry leaves and kept in a cool room. With a temperature under 10 °C (50 °F), they will hibernate until mid-March, though younger animals will awaken much earlier.

Gallery

Testudo marginata ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2816x2120, 1486 KB) Summary Foto von Richard Mayer. ...	A male T. marginata marginata, identified by the long tail with broad base. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 390 KB)A male Marginated Tortoise, belly up. ...	A female T. marginata with a broad-edged carapace. The cloacal opening is visible on the tail. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 249 KB)Female Marginated Tortoise with a broad edge. ...	Halfbreed with father T. m. and mother T. g. Download high resolution version (2816x2120, 1454 KB)Half-breed from a father Testudo marginata and a mother Testudo greaca Photo by Richard Mayer. ...
T. marginata sarda Download high resolution version (1299x974, 375 KB)Testudo marginata sarda. ...	A young T. marginata on its back ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1380x1039, 183 KB) Foto by Richard Mayer, Testudo marginata, GNU-FDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Greek Tortoise Download high resolution version (1280x960, 481 KB)Greek Marginated Tortoise. ... Binomial name Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 The Greek Tortoise or Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) is one of four European members of the Testudinidae family of tortoises. ...

References and further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Marginated Tortoise

• Characteristics of European tortoises (in German)