Hermann's tortoise

{{short description|Species of tortoise}}  {{Speciesbox | image = Testudo hermanni hermanni Mallorca 02.jpg | image_caption = ''Testudo hermanni hermanni'' on Mallorca | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Luiselli, L. |year=2024 |title=''Testudo hermanni '' |volume=2024 |article-number= e.T21648A2777071 |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> | status2 = CITES_A2 | status2_system = CITES | status2_ref = <ref name="CITES">{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref> | genus = Testudo | species = hermanni | authority = Gmelin, 1789 | range_map = Testudo hermanni range map.jpg | range_map_caption = Range map. Western green population is ''hermanni'', eastern blue ''boettgeri'' and red ''hercegovinensis''. | synonyms = ; ''T. h. hermanni'' *''Testudo hermanni'' {{small|Gmelin, 1789}} *''Testudo graeca bettai'' {{small|Lataste, 1881}} *''Testudo hermanni hermanni'' {{small|— Wermuth, 1952}} *''Testudo hermanni robertmertensi'' {{small|Wermuth, 1952}} *''Protestudo hermanni'' {{small|— Chkhikvadze, 1983}} *''Agrionemys hermanni'' {{small|— Gmira, 1993}} *''Testudo hermanii'' [sic] {{small|Gerlach, 2001}} ''(ex errore)'' *''Testudo hermannii'' [sic] {{small|Claude & Tong, 2004}} ''(ex errore)'' *''Eurotestudo hermanni'' {{small|— de Lapparent de Broin et al., 2006}} ; ''T. h. boettgeri'' *''Testudo graeca'' var. ''boettgeri'' {{small|Mojsisovics, 1889}} *''Testudo graeca'' var. ''hercegovinensis'' {{small|F. Werner, 1899}} *''Testudo enriquesi'' {{small|Parenzan, 1932}} *''Testudo hermanni boettgeri'' {{small|— Bour, 1987}} *''Testudo boettgeri'' {{small|— Artner, Budischek & Froschauer, 2000}} *''Testudo hercegovinensis'' {{small|— Perälä, 2002}} *''Testudo boettgeri boettgeri'' {{small|— Artner, 2003}} *''Testudo boettgeri hercegovinensis'' {{small|— Artner, 2003}} *''Testudo hermanni hercegovinensis'' {{small|— S. Vinke & T. Vinke, 2004}} *''Eurotestudo boettgeri'' {{small|— de Lapperent de Broin et al., 2006}} *''Eurotestudo hercegovinensis'' {{small|— de Lapparent de Broin et al., 2006}} | synonyms_ref = <ref name="Fritz 2007">{{Cite journal|journal=Vertebrate Zoology|title=Checklist of Chelonians of the World|year=2007|author=Fritz, Uwe|author-link=species:Uwe Fritz|author2=Havaš, Peter|author2-link=species:Peter Havaš|volume=57|issue=2|pages=299–301|doi=10.3897/vz.57.e30895 |s2cid=87809001 |doi-access=free }}</ref> }}

The '''Hermann's tortoise''' ('''''Testudo hermanni''''') is a species of tortoise native to Europe.

==Etymology== The specific epithet, ''hermanni'', honors French naturalist Johann Hermann.<ref name=EDR>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Testudo hermanni'', p. 121; ''T. h. boettgeri'', p. 29).</ref>

The subspecific name, ''boettgeri'', honors German herpetologist Oskar Boettger.<ref name=EDR/>

==Taxonomy== Two subspecies are known: the '''western Hermann's tortoise''' (''T. h. hermanni'') and the '''eastern Hermann's tortoise''' (''T. h. boettgeri''). Sometimes mentioned as a subspecies, ''T. h. peleponnesica'' is not yet confirmed to be genetically different from ''T. h. boettgeri''.

In 2006, Hermann's tortoise was suggested to be moved to the genus ''Eurotestudo'' and to bring the subspecies to the rank of species ('''''Eurotestudo hermanni''''' and '''''Eurotestudo boettgeri''')''.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=de Lapparent de Broin |first1=F. |author1-link=species:France de Lapparent de Broin |last2=Bour |first2=R. |author2-link=species:Roger Bour |last3=Parham |first3=J.F. |author3-link=species:James Ford Parham |last4=Perälä |first4=J. |author4-link=species:Jarmo Perälä |year=2006 |title=''Eurotestudo'', a new genus for the species ''Testudo hermanni'' Gmelin, 1789 (Chelonii, Testudinidae) |journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol |volume=5 |issue=6 |pages=803–811 |doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2006.03.002|bibcode=2006CRPal...5..803D }}</ref> Although some factors indicate this might be correct,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fritz |first1=U. |last2=Široký |first2=P. |author2-link=species:Pavel Široký |last3=Kami |first3=H. |author3-link=species:Harry T. Kami |last4=Wink |first4=M. |author4-link=species:Michael Wink |year=2005 |title=Environmentally caused dwarfism or a valid species—Is ''Testudo weissingeri'' Bour, 1996 a distinct evolutionary lineage? New evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear genomic markers |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=389–401 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.007 |pmid=16223676 |bibcode=2005MolPE..37..389F }}</ref> the data at hand are not unequivocally in support and the relationships between Hermann's and the Russian tortoise among each other and to the other species placed in ''Testudo'' are not robustly determined. Hence, it seems doubtful that the new genus will be accepted for now. The elevation of the subspecies to full species was tentatively rejected under the biological species concept at least, as there still seems significant gene flow.<ref name="fritzetal2006">{{cite journal |last1=Fritz |first1=Uwe |last2=Auer |first2=Markus |author2-link=species:Markus Auer |last3=Bertolero |first3=Albert |last4=Cheylan |first4=Marc |last5=Fattizzo |first5=Tiziano |author5-link=species:Tiziano Fattizzo |last6=Hundsdörfer |first6=Anna K. |author6-link=species:Anna K. Hundsdörfer |last7=Sampayo |first7=Marcos Martín |last8=Pretus |first8=Joan L. |last9=Široký |first9=Pavel |last10=Wink |first10=Michael |year=2006 |title=A rangewide phylogeography of Hermann's tortoise, ''Testudo hermanni'' (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae): implications for taxonomy |journal=Zoologica Scripta |volume=35 |issue=5 |pages=531–543 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00242.x |s2cid=86110728}}</ref>

Of note, the rate of evolution as measured by mutations accumulating in the mtDNA differs markedly, with the eastern populations having evolved faster. This is apparently due to stronger fragmentation of the population on the mountainous Balkans during the last ice age. While this has no profound implications for taxonomy of this species, apart from suggesting that two other proposed subspecies are actually just local forms at present, it renders the use of molecular clocks in ''Testudo'' even more dubious and unreliable than they are for tortoises in general.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Avise |first1=J.C. |last2=Bowen |first2=B.W. |author2-link=species:Brian W. Bowen |last3=Lamb |first3=T. |author3-link=species:Trip Lamb |last4=Meylan |first4=A.B. |last5=Bermingham |first5=E. |author5-link=species:Eldredge Bermingham |year=1992 |title=Mitochondrial DNA evolution at a turtle's pace: evidence for low genetic variability and reduced microevolutionary rate in the Testudines |journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=457–473 |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040735 |pmid=1584014|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=van der Kuyl |first1=Antoinette C. |last2=Ballasina |first2=Donato L.P. |last3=Zorgdrager |first3=Fokla |year=2005 |title=Mitochondrial haplotype diversity in the tortoise species ''Testudo graeca'' from North Africa and the Middle East |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=5 |issue=1–8 |page=29 |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-5-29 |pmc=1097724 |pmid=15836787 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="fritzetal2006" />

===''T. h. hermanni''=== The subspecies ''T. h. hermanni'' includes the former subspecies ''T. h. robertmertensi'' and has a number of local forms. It has a highly arched shell with an intensive coloration, with its yellow coloration making a strong contrast to the dark patches. The colors wash out somewhat in older animals, but the intense yellow is often maintained. The underside has two connected black bands along the central seam.

The coloration of the head ranges from dark green to yellowish, with isolated dark patches. A particular characteristic is a yellow fleck on the cheek found in most specimens, although not in all; ''T. h. robertmertensi'' is the name of a morph with very prominent cheek spots. Generally, the forelegs have no black pigmentation on their undersides. The base of the claws is often lightly colored. The tail in males is larger than in females and possesses a spike. Generally, the shell protecting the tail is divided. A few specimens can be found with undivided shells, similar to the Greek tortoise. <gallery>  Image:Varoises1.jpg|Var colouring Image:Pugliese.jpg|Apulian colouring Image:Rosella2.JPG|Sardinian colouring </gallery>

===''T. h. boettgeri''=== The subspecies ''T. h. hercegovinensis'', known as the Dalmatian tortoise,<ref name="Dalmatian tortoise">{{cite web |last=Wegehaupt |first=Manuel |title=An Excursion into the Natural Habitats of the Dalmatian Tortoise |url=http://www.testudo-farm.de/html/dalmatian_tortoise.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205030658/http://www.testudo-farm.de/html/dalmatian_tortoise.html |archive-date=5 February 2016 |access-date=9 October 2017 |website=www.testudo-farm.de |publisher=Testudo Farm}}</ref> (Balkans coast) and the local ''T. h. peloponnesica'' (southwestern Peloponnesus coast) are now included here; they constitute local forms that are not yet geographically or in other ways reproductively isolated and apparently, derive from relict populations of the last ice age.<ref name="fritzetal2006" /> The eastern Hermann's tortoises also have arched, almost round carapaces, but some are notably flatter and more oblong. The coloration is brownish with a yellow or greenish hue and with isolated black flecks. The coloring tends to wash out quite strongly in older animals. The underside is almost always solid horn color and has separate black patches on either side of the central seam.

The head is brown to black, with fine scales. The forelegs similarly possess fine scales. The limbs generally have five claws, which are darkly colored at their base. The hind legs are noticeably thicker than the forelegs, almost plump. The particularly strong tail ends in a spike, which may be very large in older male specimens. Females have noticeably smaller tail spikes, which are slightly bent toward the body. They can vary in size, but do not grow a huge amount. Their age can be around 70–80 years.

<gallery> Image:Testudo hermanni boettgeri female var..jpg|Adult female, Bulgaria Image:Raffronto inguinali.jpg|Female ''T. h. boettgeri'' (left) and ''T. h. hercegovinensis'' tail openings Image:T. hermanni ssp. peloponnesica 6.JPG|Female ''T. h. peloponnesica'' </gallery>

==Geographic range== ''Testudo hermanni'' can be found throughout southern Europe. The western population (''T. h. hermanni'') is found in eastern Spain, southern France, the Balearic islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, southern and central Italy (Tuscany). The eastern population (''T. h. boettgeri'' ) is found in Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey and Greece, while ''T. h. hercegovinensis'' populates the coasts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro.

The oldest known evidence for ''T. hermanni'' on Sardinia is a fossil from the early Pleistocene of Monte Tuttavista. However, molecular evidence suggests extant populations of both this species and ''Emys orbicularis'' on Sardinia were actually introduced in recent times.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Zoboli |first1=Daniel |last2=Georgalis |first2=Georgios L. |last3=Arca |first3=Marisa |last4=Tuveri |first4=Caterinella |last5=Carboni |first5=Salvatore |last6=Lecca |first6=Luciano |last7=Pillola |first7=Gian Luigi |last8=Rook |first8=Lorenzo |last9=Villani |first9=Mauro |last10=Chesi |first10=Francesco |last11=Delfino |first11=Massimo |date=2022-07-29 |title=An overview of the fossil turtles from Sardinia (Italy) |journal=Historical Biology |volume=35 |issue=8 |pages=1484–1513 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2022.2098488 |s2cid=251185149 |issn=0891-2963}}</ref> Hermann's tortoise was similarly introduced to Cyprus.

==Description== Hermann's tortoises are small to medium-sized tortoises from southern Europe. Young animals and some adults have attractive black and yellow-patterned carapaces, although the brightness may fade with age to a less distinct gray, straw, or yellow coloration. They have slightly hooked upper jaws and, like other tortoises, possess no teeth,<ref name=Burnie>{{cite book|author=Burnie D|title=Animal|year=2001|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London}}</ref> just strong, horny beaks.<ref name=Bonin /> Their scaly limbs are greyish to brown, with some yellow markings, and their tails bear a spur (a horny spike) at the tip.<ref name=Bonin /> Adult males have particularly long and thick tails,<ref name=Ernst /> and well-developed spurs, distinguishing them from females.<ref name=Bonin />

The eastern subspecies ''T. h. boettgeri'' is much larger than the western ''T. h. hermanni'', reaching sizes up to {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. A specimen of this size may weigh {{convert|3|–|4|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. ''T. h. hermanni'' rarely grows larger than {{convert|18|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Some adult specimens are as small as {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

<gallery> image:Testudo hermanni hermanni male 2.JPG|Male of ''T. h. hermanni'' Image:Testudo hermanni hermanni female.jpg|Female of ''T. h. hermanni'' Image:Testudo_hermanni_boettgeri_female.jpg|Female of ''T. h. boettgeri'' </gallery>

== Ecology == Early in the morning, the animals leave their nightly shelters, which are usually hollows protected by thick bushes or hedges, to bask in the sun and warm their bodies. They then roam about the Mediterranean meadows of their habitat in search of food. They determine which plants to eat by the sense of smell. In captivity, they eat a variety of wildflowers, however care must be taken regarding which are made available, as some flowers such as buttercups are toxic to them. Certain plants such as dandelion and kale are high in oxalic acid, which can build up over time causing renal failure, it is therefore important to carefully monitor their diet and give a varied selection of wildflower leaves. All pre-prepared food pellets are bad for Hermann's tortoises, proving addictive, often resulting in unnatural growth rates and the refusal to eat natural foods. Certain foods may prove toxic despite the tortoises enjoyment of them, including legumes, tomatoes and cabbage. The animals eat small amounts of fruits as supplementary nutrition, however this should only be given occasionally.

Around midday, the sun becomes too hot for the tortoises, so they return to their hiding places. They have a good sense of direction to enable them to return. {{Citation needed span|text=Experiments have shown they also possess a good sense of time, the position of the sun, the magnetic lines of the earth, and for landmarks.|date=July 2011}} In the late afternoon, they leave their shelters again and return to feeding.

In late February, Hermann's tortoises emerge from under bushes or old rotting wood, where they spend the winter months hibernating, buried in a bed of dead leaves.<ref name=Bonin>{{cite book|author=Bonin F, Devaux B, Dupré A |title=Turtles of the World|year=2006|publisher=A&C Black Publishers Ltd.|location=London}}</ref> Immediately after surfacing from their winter resting place, Hermann's tortoises commence courtship and mating.<ref name=Bonin /> Courtship is a rough affair for the female, which is pursued, rammed, and bitten by the male, before being mounted. Aggression is also seen between rival males during the breeding season, which can result in ramming contests.<ref name=Ernst>{{cite book|author=Ernst CH, Altenburg RGM, Barbour RW|title=Turtles of the World|year=1997|publisher=ETI Information Systems Ltd.|location=Netherlands}}</ref>

thumb|A female of ''T. h. boettgeri'' subspecies laying eggs in soil pit thumb|A hatchling of ''T. h. hermanni'' Between May and July, female Hermann's tortoises deposit between two and 12 eggs into flask-shaped nests dug into the soil,<ref name=Ernst /> up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} deep.<ref name=Bonin /> Most females lay more than one clutch each season.<ref name=Ernst /> The pinkish-white eggs are incubated for around 90 days and, like many reptiles,<ref name=Ernst /> the temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines the hatchlings sex. At 26 °C, only males will be produced, while at 30 °C, all the hatchlings will be female.<ref name=Bonin /> Young Hermann's tortoises emerge just after the start of the heavy autumn rains in early September and spend the first four or five years of their lives within just a few metres of their nests.<ref name=Ernst /> If the rains do not come, or if nesting took place late in the year, the eggs will still hatch, but the young will remain underground and not emerge until the following spring. Until the age of six or eight, when the hard shell becomes fully developed, the young tortoises are very vulnerable to predators and may fall prey to black rats, badgers, magpies, red foxes, wild boar, and many other animals (such as large snakes and European hedgehogs).<ref>Testudo hermanni (Hermanns Tortoise). Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Testudo_hermanni/</ref> If they survive these threats, the longevity of Hermann's tortoises is around 30 years.<ref name=Bonin /> One rare record of longevity is 31.7 years.<ref name="katenfrank">[http://www.pondturtle.com/lturtle.html Reptiles and amphibians in captivity - Longevity].</ref> Compared to other tortoises (e.g. ''Testudo graeca''),<ref name="katenfrank" /> the longevity might be underestimated and many sources are reporting they might live 90 years<ref name="gerontology">Castanet J (1994). "Age estimation and longevity in reptiles". ''Gerontology'' '''40''' (2-4): 174-192.</ref> or more.

{{Gallery|title=Hatching Hermann's tortoise |Image:Testudo hermanni BW 1.JPG|12:02 |Image:Testudo hermanni BW 2.JPG|12:32 |Image:Testudo hermanni BW 3.JPG|12:42 |Image:Testudo hermanni BW 4.JPG|12:46 |Image:Testudo hermanni BW 5.JPG|14:47 }}

===Hibernation=== In nature, Hermann's tortoises dig their nightly shelters out and spend the relatively mild Mediterranean winters there. During this time, their heart and breathing rates drop notably. Captive bred animals can be kept in the basement in a roomy rodent-proof box with a thick layer of dry leaves. The temperature should be around 5 °C. As an alternative, the box can be stored in a refrigerator. For this method to be used, the refrigerator should be in regular day-to-day use, to permit air flow. During hibernation, the ambient temperature must not fall below zero. Full-grown specimens may sleep four to five months at a time.

== In captivity == Hermann's tortoise can be kept indoors with adequate living conditions provided by the owner. It requires a heat lamp set at around 26-35°C or 80-90°F to provide a basking area.<ref name=":0" /> At night, they are fine with lower heats such as 15-21°C or 60-70°F. A UVB bulb is also needed to help process and create vitamin D3 and prevents issues such as metabolic bone disease.<ref name=":1" />

==Conservation== The species is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international export/import requires CITES documentation to be obtained and presented to border authorities.<ref name="CITES"/>

Many ways have been introduced to help conserve the species''.'' A program introduced in 1989 and 1990 reintroduced tortoises to the population, put fences to reduce highway traffic towards the tortoises and more.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Guyot |first1=Ghislaine |last2=Clobert |first2=Jean |date=1997-02-01 |title=Conservation measures for a population of Hermann's tortoise ''Testudo hermanni'' in southern France bisected by a major highway |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320796000821 |journal=Biological Conservation |language=en |volume=79 |issue=2 |pages=251–256 |doi=10.1016/S0006-3207(96)00082-1 |bibcode=1997BCons..79..251G |issn=0006-3207|url-access=subscription }}</ref> This was shown to aid in increasing population numbers by reintroducing other tortoises of the same species.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|position=right|Testudo hermanni| Testudo hermanni (Hermann's tortoise)}}

*[http://www.hermannstortoise.co.uk/general-tortoise-care.html Guide to keeping Hermann's Tortoises]. *[https://www.westberkshiretortoises.co.uk/hermann-breeders-uk/ Breeding Hermann's Tortoises].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hermann's tortoise}} Category:Testudo (genus) Category:Turtles of Europe Category:Reptiles as pets Category:Species that are or were threatened by agricultural development Category:Species that are or were threatened by agricultural pollution Category:Species that are or were threatened by pollution Category:Species that are or were threatened by urbanization Category:Species that are or were threatened by fires Category:Species that are or were threatened by the pet trade Category:Species that are or were threatened by roadkill Category:Species that are or were threatened by tourism Category:Species that are or were threatened by disease Tortoise, Hermann's Tortoise, Hermann's Category:Reptiles described in 1789 Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin Category:Habitats Directive species