Testudo graeca terrestris
A species of Mediterranean tortoises Scientific name : Testudo graeca terrestris Genus : Mediterranean tortoises
Testudo graeca terrestris, A species of Mediterranean tortoises
Scientific name: Testudo graeca terrestris
Genus: Mediterranean tortoises
Content
Description General Info
Description
Testudo graeca terrestris is a species characterized by its robust capacity for adapting to arid conditions, prevalent in its indigenous Mediterranean ecosystem. Its distinctive fasting strategy, a form of estivation conducted during the hottest periods, enables survival amidst scarcity. Furthermore, this creature is notable for its male territoriality, a behavior significant during the breeding season, contributing to complex social dynamics.
General Info
Lifespan
80-100 years
Diet
Testudo graeca terrestris mainly consumes herbaceous vegetation. Broad-leafed plants and grasses form a significant part of its diet, supplemented by occasional fruits and flowers, demonstrating a preference for foods rich in fibre but low in protein.
Appearance
Testudo graeca terrestris is a small to medium-sized tortoise with a domed carapace, predominantly yellow to tan in color. Key identifiers are the brown or black irregular markings on each scute. This species has sturdy legs and a short tail. Sexual dimorphism is evident, with females generally larger and having flatter plastrons compared to the more concave plastrons of males.
Behavior
Testudo graeca terrestris exhibits primarily solitary and territorial behavior, using visual displays and physical aggression to defend its territory. An herbivorous forager, it consumes a wide range of plants and enjoys basking in sunlight. Notably, testudo graeca terrestris creates underground burrows for hibernation, an adaptation to its arid, Mediterranean habitat.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Tortoises Genus
Mediterranean tortoises Species
Testudo graeca terrestris 
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