TABLE OF CONTENT

• Greek tortoise
• Egyptian tortoise
• Leopard tortoise
• Indian star tortoise
• Red foot tortoise
• Cherry head tortoise

In the following article, you will be looking at different tortoise types which are being found throughout the world. And we will also going to provide you some facts on the basis of their size, color, appearance, life expectancy and many other things which are related to them. So, go through the whole article, if you want to perceive depth knowledge on tortoise types and species.

Greek Tortoise

Greek tortoise is considered among the family of testudinidae which are classified under the order testudo. Surprisingly, there are 12 more sub species of Greek tortoise found their habitat. Some of the Greek tortoise is mostly found in Mediterranean regions. Most of the people keep the Greek tortoise as their pet due to their size which is comparatively smaller, not like other tortoise types. These Greek tortoise grow somewhere from 11cm to 25 cm which makes people to fall in love with these small scale creatures. Greek tortoise also known as spur thigh tortoise in the neighboring countries of North Africa. They have got this name as Greek tortoise has spurs which are projecting out from their thighs.

Also Greek tortoise appears dark brown and dusty yellow in color due to their habitat behavior in rocky places, under hot and humid weather. It is one of such species which are well known among the tortoise types due to the mosaic pattern which is formed on the high domed looking shells of Greek tortoise. These tortoises like to feed on grasses, leaves and weeds which makes them complete herbivores reptiles. The average life expectancy of Greek tortoise range between 40 – 120 years depends, all upon the climate or habitat they are surviving in. 

Egyptian Tortoise

The scientific names of Egyptian tortoise are testudo kleinmanni and they share the same family of testidiniae like any other tortoise types. Egyptian tortoise is also known by some other names too i.e. leiths tortoise and kleimanns tortoise, where they got this name from the genus of theirs. Coming to the appearance of Egyptian tortoise, their shells are brown in color and their skin appears pale yellow in color. The dome shaped shell of Egyptian tortoise are not flat rather its bit higher not as compare to any other tortoise types. The benefit of such high dome shell is that Egyptian tortoise takes their entire neck and head back into the shell as it saves them from the predators in not being eaten. And such head hiding moment makes them the part of crytodira group of tortoise types, which generally hides their neck when they sense any danger or any close call with their predators.

Egyptian tortoise among the tiniest species of tortoise which are inhabited to deserted places in the northern hemisphere. And the food habits of Egyptian tortoise vary as per their habitat, but considerably Egyptian tortoise is herbivores, they eat mostly the grass and other leafy plants and vegetables. The life expectancy of Egyptian tortoise ranges between 80 – 110 years.

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Leopard Tortoise

Leopard tortoise is classified under the genus chordate and the given scientific name of leopard tortoise is stigmochelys pardalis. These creatures have black and gold color pattern dots all over their shell, like that of big cat i.e. leopard and their skin appears light brown and creamiest in color. Leopard tortoise is the second largest species among all tortoise types which are found mostly in the countries of African continent. In countries like Namibia, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Somalia, leopard tortoise is being seen and found.

Leopard tortoise is Giant in size as they have the ability to grow up to the length of 72 cm and reach up to the height of 48 cm. and only a little population of leopard tortoise lives up to the age of 100 yrs. As most of the hatchling die at a very young age or some adult got hunted and poached by the humans when they live half of their age, just for the demand of leopard tortoise shell in the market. Leopard tortoise most probably feeds on grass and twigs of plants and trees so, this makes them a fully herbivores animals. They are the creatures that likely to inhabit in extremely dry regional places as they won’t able to adapt in hot or cold weather conditions.

Indian Star Tortoise

Indian star tortoise appears light brown and black in color with some criss-cross golden and yellow stripes on their shell.  Indian star tortoise comes among Cryptodira group of tortoise, a species tortoise types which hide under their shells, when they sense any threat and danger close to them. Indian star tortoise also emerges from the family of testudines and they have also been given the scientific name which is geochelane elegans which came from the geochelane order. Also Indian star tortoise develops up to the size of 10 – 15 cm and they are one of the endangered species under the all sub tortoise types as poachers killed them for their magnificent shell developed all around the body.

Indian star tortoise uses the patterned of their shell as a camouflage, as helps to blend them within the bushes and tall grasses and protects them from the hunters and predators. And i.e. the reason too, as why Indian star tortoise choose to inhabit in dry regional places and dense deciduous forest and talking about their food habits, Indian star tortoise eats grassy and green diets. In some countries from south Asia, like India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, Indian star tortoise has been found and the average amount of life expectancy found in these tortoises is up to the age of 90 years.

Red Foot Tortoise

Red foot tortoise are from one of the species of tortoise which are omnivores as their dietary habits ranges from grass to fruit and worms to small fish. Among all tortoise types, only a small population feeds upon meat and flesh of other small animals like insects and annelids. Red foot tortoise is medium size tortoise which ranges from a size of 30 cm to 40 cm. These red foot tortoise is came from the family of testudinidae and are classifies under the order of chelonoidis carbonaria. Red foot tortoise is found in the places of South America, they tend to inhabit in places with hot and humid climatic conditions.

Red foot tortoise is also known by the name of red- leg tortoise in mostly the native places of southern America.  Also, talking about their appearance, red foot tortoise shells are pale yellow and carrot red in color with red and yellow spots all over it. Also both the hind and forelimbs of red foot tortoise appear brown in color with red patches on its scales, head and neck. And the average life expectancy of red foot tortoise depends on the availability of food and the habitat in which they are dwelling in as they live for an average sum of years i.e. 50.

Cherry Head Tortoise

Cherry head tortoise is closely related to the specimen of red-foot and yellow-footed tortoise and they are considered among one of the sub species of red foot tortoise out of the total five to seven tortoise types. But as per size, cherry head tortoise is comparatively smaller than that of their parent species as they are about the size of 10 inches, so we can say that these cherry head tortoise are the smaller variant of red legged tortoise. Cherry head tortoise is the native reptiles from Brazil, found in the dense forest.

Cherry head tortoise even looks same or has the same appearance and color texture similar to red foot tortoise as per the patches of red and orange color which has been found all over their body shell. Cherry head tortoise is likely to inhabit near to the swamps, ponds or any other small water bodies as they tends to adapt in cold and humid climatic region. Cherry head tortoise feeds upon wide variety of diets such as green leaf, mustard stem, and lean meat of small insects and worms which fulfills the dosage of protein and supplement within their body. A cherry head tortoise lives up to the age of 50 years in captivity.

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