Greek Tortoise

Looks how to spot one

Domed shell with scutes

A sturdy, oblong-domed tortoise with a single undivided shell plate above the tail and a small spur on each thigh, which tells it apart from Hermann's tortoise. Males are smaller, with longer tails and a slightly hollowed underside.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active by day in the warm months. Many populations rest through winter, and those in the hottest areas also slow down in high summer.314

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brumates in the cold months in most of its range, so keepers follow a seasonal cycle. A diet rich in coarse fibre plus calcium and UVB light supports normal growth.14

Home where they are happiest

Lives in a wide range of dry, open habitats including steppe, scrub, grassland, open woodland, coastal dunes and farmland.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Herbivore. Wild tortoises eat dozens of plant species, favouring weeds, legumes, flowers and seeds, and they also eat dried plant material. In captivity, dandelion and similar weeds are favourites. Lettuce is not a good staple, and a mix of fresh weeds with high-fibre dried plants is recommended.134

The story where it all began

Linnaeus named the species in 1758, even though it lives in North Africa and Asia as well as Greece. One account says the name points to its Greek range; another says the shell reminded him of Greek mosaic or lettering. Today about 12 subspecies are recognised, from the small Tunisian form to the large Anatolian ibera.231

Recognised by the official bits

The Reptile Database

Valid species Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 17582

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable1

European Union

Protected under EU law; private import of most subspecies is not permitted3