Hermann's tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hermann's tortoise |
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| Testudo hermanni hermanni on Mallorca | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Testudo |
| Species: |
T. hermanni
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| Binomial name | |
| Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789
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| Range map. Western green population is hermanni, eastern blue boettgeri and red hercegovinensis. |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Hermann's tortoise (scientific name: Testudo hermanni) is a fascinating type of tortoise. These reptiles are native to sunny parts of Europe. They are known for their beautiful shells and calm nature.
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Hermann's Tortoise: A European Reptile
What's in a Name?
The name hermanni honors a French naturalist named Johann Hermann. He was a scientist who studied nature. The name boettgeri honors a German scientist, Oskar Boettger, who studied reptiles and amphibians.
Types of Hermann's Tortoises
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Hermann's tortoises. Think of subspecies as different groups within the same species. They have small differences, often based on where they live.
- The western Hermann's tortoise is called T. h. hermanni.
- The eastern Hermann's tortoise is called T. h. boettgeri.
Scientists sometimes discuss if these types should be separate species. But for now, they are considered subspecies. There are also local variations, like T. h. peloponnesica, which are similar to the eastern type.
Western Hermann's Tortoise
The western Hermann's tortoise (T. h. hermanni) has a shell that is quite rounded and high. Its shell often has bright yellow colors with dark spots. These colors can fade a bit as the tortoise gets older. Underneath, its shell usually has two black stripes joined together.
Its head can be dark green or yellowish, with some dark spots. Many of these tortoises have a yellow spot on their cheek. Males have a larger tail with a spike at the end. The shell covering the tail is usually split.
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A western Hermann's tortoise from Var, France.
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A western Hermann's tortoise from Apulia, Italy.
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A western Hermann's tortoise from Sardinia, Italy.
Eastern Hermann's Tortoise
The eastern Hermann's tortoise (T. h. boettgeri) also has a rounded shell. However, some can be flatter or more oval-shaped. Their shells are usually brownish with yellow or green hints and black spots. These colors also tend to fade with age. The underside of their shell is often a solid horn color, with separate black patches.
Their heads are brown to black, covered in small scales. Their legs have fine scales too. They usually have five claws on each foot, which are dark at the base. The hind legs are thicker than the front ones. They have a strong tail with a spike, which can be very large in older males. Females have smaller tail spikes. These tortoises can live for a very long time, sometimes 70 to 80 years!
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An adult female eastern Hermann's tortoise from Bulgaria.
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Comparing tail openings of a female T. h. boettgeri (left) and T. h. hercegovinensis.
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A female T. h. peloponnesica, a local form of the eastern tortoise.
Where Do They Live?
Hermann's tortoises live all over southern Europe.
The western type (T. h. hermanni) can be found in places like eastern Spain, southern France, and islands such as the Balearic islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. They also live in southern and central Italy.
The eastern type (T. h. boettgeri) lives in countries like Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, and Greece. A local form, T. h. hercegovinensis, lives along the coasts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro.
Sometimes, these tortoises are moved by people to new places. For example, Hermann's tortoises were brought to Cyprus by humans.
What Do They Look Like?
Hermann's tortoises are small to medium-sized. Young tortoises often have beautiful black and yellow patterns on their shells. As they get older, these colors might become a bit duller, turning gray, straw, or light yellow.
They have a slightly hooked upper jaw, but no teeth. Instead, they have a strong, hard beak, just like birds. Their legs are scaly and can be grayish or brown, sometimes with yellow spots. At the tip of their tail, they have a small, hard spike called a spur.
You can often tell males and females apart by their tails. Adult males have longer, thicker tails with bigger spurs.
The eastern Hermann's tortoise (T. h. boettgeri) is usually larger. It can grow up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) long and weigh 3 to 4 kilograms (6.6 to 8.8 pounds). The western type (T. h. hermanni) is smaller, rarely growing over 18 centimeters (7 inches). Some adults can be as small as 7 centimeters (2.8 inches).
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A male western Hermann's tortoise.
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A female western Hermann's tortoise.
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A female eastern Hermann's tortoise.
Daily Life and Habits
Early in the morning, Hermann's tortoises leave their shelters. These shelters are usually hidden under thick bushes or hedges. They bask in the sun to warm up their bodies. Then, they search for food in the sunny meadows where they live. They use their sense of smell to find tasty plants.
What Do Hermann's Tortoises Eat?
In the wild, they eat many kinds of wildflowers. If you have a pet tortoise, you must be careful about what you feed it. Some plants, like buttercups, are not safe for them. Plants like dandelion and kale are good, but should be given in moderation.
It's best to give them a variety of safe wildflower leaves. Special food pellets are not good for them. They can make tortoises grow too fast and refuse natural foods. Some foods like tomatoes and cabbage can be harmful, even if tortoises enjoy them. They can eat small amounts of fruit as a treat, but only sometimes.
Around midday, the sun gets too hot. The tortoises return to their hiding spots to cool down. They have a good sense of direction to find their way back. In the late afternoon, they come out again to eat more.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
In late February, Hermann's tortoises wake up from their winter sleep. They spend the winter months hibernating under bushes or old wood, buried in dead leaves. After waking up, they start looking for mates.
Males will chase and try to mate with females. Males might also push each other to compete for females during this time.
Between May and July, female tortoises dig flask-shaped nests in the soil. They lay between two and 12 pinkish-white eggs, about 10 centimeters (4 inches) deep. Most females lay more than one group of eggs each year. The eggs hatch after about 90 days.
The temperature of the nest decides if the babies will be male or female. If it's around 26°C (79°F), mostly males will hatch. If it's around 30°C (86°F), mostly females will hatch.
Young tortoises usually hatch in early September, after the first heavy autumn rains. They stay very close to their nests for their first four or five years. If the rains don't come, or if the eggs were laid late, the babies might stay underground until the next spring.
Young tortoises are very small and vulnerable. Many animals, like black rats, badgers, magpies, red foxes, and even large snakes, might try to eat them. If they survive these dangers, Hermann's tortoises can live for about 30 years. Some sources suggest they might live 90 years or even more!
- Hatching Hermann's tortoise
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Winter Sleep: Hibernation
In the wild, Hermann's tortoises dig their own shelters for the winter. They spend the mild Mediterranean winters there. During this time, their heart rate and breathing slow down a lot.
If you have a pet tortoise, you can help it hibernate safely. You can keep it in a large, rodent-proof box in a cool basement. Fill the box with a thick layer of dry leaves. The temperature should be around 5°C (41°F). Another option is to use a refrigerator that is opened regularly for air flow. The temperature must never drop below freezing. Adult tortoises can sleep for four to five months.
Caring for Hermann's Tortoises as Pets
Hermann's tortoises can be kept indoors if they have the right living conditions. They need a heat lamp to create a warm basking area, around 26-35°C (80-90°F). At night, cooler temperatures like 15-21°C (60-70°F) are fine.
A special UVB bulb is also important. This light helps them make Vitamin D3, which is needed for strong bones. Without it, they can get a bone disease.
Protecting Hermann's Tortoises
Hermann's tortoises are a protected species. They are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This means you need special papers to move them between countries.
Many efforts are being made to help these tortoises. For example, in 1989 and 1990, a program helped reintroduce tortoises to areas where their numbers had dropped. Fences were also put up to keep them safe from cars on highways. These actions have helped increase their populations.
See Also
- Mediterranean tortoise
- List of reptiles of Italy
- Jackson ratio
