Scaly friends count too.
Marginated Tortoise
Testudo marginata
Also called Greek marginated tortoise, Sardinian marginated tortoise, Dwarf marginated tortoise (small southern form)
From Southern Greece, from the Peloponnese north to Mount Olympus, and nearby parts of the Balkans; the population on Sardinia appears to come from a deliberate introduction by people1
At a glance the quick version
Maximum shell length about 35 cm; no minimum adult size given.
Captive animals commonly reach 50-70 years; scientists estimate a potential 100-140 years.
Looks how to spot one
Elongated shell with flared rear edge
The largest tortoise in Europe. Adults have a long, almost black shell with yellow patches, and the back edge of the shell flares outwards in a scalloped, bell-like skirt that makes the species easy to spot.1
Personality what they are like
Generally calm and steady, though males can be a little territorial and become very vocal and persistent during courtship.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active grazer that needs room to roam; a spacious enclosure is recommended.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Needs UVB lighting and dietary supplements when kept indoors, along with a roomy enclosure of roughly 1.8-2.4 m (6-8 ft) in length.1
Home where they are happiest
In the wild it lives on hillsides and in mountain areas up to about 1,600 m. Its dark shell helps it warm up quickly in these cooler places.1
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Strictly herbivorous, grazing on grasses, weeds and fibrous plants.1
The story where it all began
Johann David Schoepff described the species in 1789, and its name refers to the distinctive shell margin. It has long been kept as a pet because it is hardy and calm. The tortoises on Sardinia are thought to descend from animals people brought to the island.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is the largest tortoise species native to Europe.1
- 2
The flared rear edge of the shell gives the species its name, 'marginata'.1
- 3
Eggs hatch after about 100 days in the wild, which is quick for a tortoise.1
- 4
Females may lay up to three clutches in a single summer, each of around 15 eggs.1
- 5
Courting males make long, deep calls.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Marginated Tortoise. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- SoakA shallow lukewarm soakevery week
- UVB bulb changeFollow the bulb maker's adviceevery 6 months
- Outdoor time summerSupervised sunshine on warm daysevery day
- Weigh inevery month
- Full cleanevery month
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Marginated tortoise - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for all fields: range, size, lifespan, shell, diet, behaviour, captivity, history, facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.