Among the turtles belonging to the Testudinae family, there is a species known as the Horsfield's tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) also called the Russian tortoise. These tortoises share a family with other well-known tortoises such as Moorish (Greek) tortoises or African tortoises.
Horsfield's tortoises go by many names, although this one is the most popular. In some places they are also known as Steppe tortoises or Afghan tortoises, but they are called Horsfield's tortoise in honor of the person who discovered them; Thomas Horsfield.In this PlanetAnimal breed sheet you can discover the characteristics, habitat and diet of the Horsfield's tortoise.
Origin
- Asia
- Europe
- Afghanistan
- Azerbaijan
- China
- Uzbekistan
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Turkmenistan
Characteristics of Horsfield's Tortoise
Horsfield's tortoises are small-sized tortoises with a length from tail to head between 13 and 25 centimeters. With an average of 22 in females and 19 in males, thus manifesting sexual dimorphism, a fairly common feature in turtles. Also, males and females can be differentiated by the length of their tail, as it is longer in males.
All specimens, regardless of sex, share characteristics such as their flattened carapace which is brown in several shades, a color shared with the rest of the body, which helps them blend into their surroundings.They have strong front legs with four well-developed nails, which sets them apart from the rest of the turtles in the family, as all the others have five nails, not four.
In general, with a life expectancy easily exceeding 30 to 40 years, they are very long-lived turtles, even in the wild where they are most threatened¡. In captivity, their life expectancy skyrockets, easily reaching one hundred years.
Horsfield's Tortoise Habitat
This species of turtle inhabits the dry steppes throughout Central Asia, as long as there are bodies of water or streams nearby, this is how it is found in countries like China, Afghanistan, Russia or Pakistan. This means that Horsfield's Tortoises have to deal with extremely harsh weather conditions, as they live in extreme climates where temperatures can easily drop below freezing, while in summer the mercury can reach unexpected highs.
Due to the harsh climate, these turtles spend most of the year inactive, hibernating when the temperatures are too cold and when they are too hot. To hibernate, they use holes they dig in the ground. These burrows can reach up to 3 meters deep.
Reproduction of the Horsfield tortoise
The Horsfield's Tortoise is ready to breed once it reaches about 10 years of age. During courtship, the male becomes quite violent, chasing, hitting and subduing the female during this act. In addition, they emit certain sounds, while they remain silent for the rest of their lives.
A particular ability of female Horsfield's tortoises is to retain sperm in their oviduct for hours, days, or even years until breeding conditions are optimal. The laying generally takes place between May and June, in holes prepared by the female.As in the case of the Mediterranean tortoise and the Moorish tortoise, the sex of hatchlings will be largely determined by weather conditions, with females predominating if it is over 31º.
At hatching, Horsfield's tortoises have a yellow and black, round-shaped shell that measures between 3 and 3.5 centimeters long and weighs between 8 and 11 grams.
Horsfield's Tortoise Feeding
Horsfield's Tortoises are herbivores, so their diet is based on the consumption of plant foods as are certain vegetables and fruits. This diet varies depending on where each specimen lives, as it adapts to the food sources available in each case.
Generally, the Horsfield's Tortoise eats all kinds of plant foods, such as bush leaves, flowers, dried plants, vegetables, and fruits. They may occasionally consume insects and carrion.
The Horsfield tortoise as a pet
It is common to have a Horsfield Tortoise as a pet, as they are quite sociable and easy to keep. If we want to have one in our home, we must take into account its needs and the conditions in which it must be maintained.
One of the most important is undoubtedly their space. To do this, you need to prepare a terrarium that is spacious enough for them to move freely. This must receive sunlight, as it is essential that our Horsfield tortoise can sunbathe every day. If this is not possible, it will be necessary to install UVA and UVB tubes. They will also need a place to hibernate, which they will do every year. At this time, you must change the terrarium for a low temperature terrarium (4-8ºC) in which you will put a litter of substrate.
We have to clean their terrarium and make sure that the temperature is never too high, making sure it does not exceed 35ºC.
Pictures of Horsfield's Tortoise
