Russian tortoise

Russian tortoise
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Agrionemys
Species: A. horsfieldii
Binomial name
Agrionemys horsfieldii
(Gray, 1844)
Synonyms[1]

The Russian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii), also commonly known as Horsfield's tortoise or the Central Asian tortoise, is a threatened species of tortoise. Human activities in its native habitat contribute to its threatened status.

Etymology

Both the specific name, horsfieldii, and the common name "Horsfield's tortoise" are in honor of the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield.[2]

Systematics

This species is traditionally placed in Testudo. Due to distinctly different morphological characteristics, the monotypic genus Agrionemys was proposed for it in 1966. Today, Agrionemys horsfieldii is currently being accepted.[3] DNA sequence analysis generally concurs, but not too robustly so.[4] Some sources also list three separate subspecies of Russian tortoise, but they are not widely accepted by taxonomists:[5]

Description

The Russian tortoise is a small tortoise species, with a size range of 13–25 cm (5–10 in). Females grow slightly larger (15–25 cm [6–10 in]) to accommodate more eggs. Males average 13–20 cm (5–8 in).

They are herbivores and feed on weeds and wild flowers.

Russian tortoises are sexually dimorphic. Males tend to have longer tails generally tucked to the side, and longer claws; females have a short, fat tail, with shorter claws than the males. The male has a slit-shaped vent (cloaca) near the tip of its tail; the female has an asterisk-shaped vent (cloaca). Russian tortoises have four toes. Coloration varies, but the shell is usually a ruddy brown or black, fading to yellow between the scutes, and the body is straw-yellow and brown depending on the subspecies.

The male Russian tortoise courts a female through head bobbing, circling, and biting her forelegs. When she submits, he mounts her from behind, making high-pitched squeaking noises during mating.[6]

In captivity

In captivity, diet typically consists of lamb's lettuce, plantains and geraniums. The diet should be varied and may include juvenile dandelions and different species of lettuce, though like very many plants, they should be fed rarely due to potentially harmful side effects (for the former) or a lack of nutritional value (for the latter). Water is important for all species, but the tortoise being an arid species typically get water from their food, but they also need a constant supply. Tortoises should be soaked in warm water up to the mid shell. Tortoises typically empty their bowels in water as to hide their scent, this is an instinct, and it also helps keep their enclosure cleaner.[7]

Russian tortoises do not require a CITES Article X certificate.[8]

1968 Moon flight

In September 1968 two Russian tortoises flew to the Moon, circled it, and returned safely to Earth on the Russian Zond 5 mission. Accompanied by mealworms, plants, and other lifeforms, they were the first Earth creatures to travel to the Moon.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 301–302. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Agrionemys horsfieldii, p. 126).
  3. ↑ Khozatsky & Mlynarski (1966)
  4. ↑ e.g. Fritz et al. (2005)
  5. ↑ "Testudo horsfieldii". Reptile Database. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Breeding Russian Tortoises". The Russian Tortoise. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Russian Tortoise Diet". russiantortoise.org. Joe Heinen. 2002. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
  8. ↑ "Tortoise & the Law". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Madrigal, Alexis C. (27 December 2012). "Who Was First in the Race to the Moon? The Tortoise". The Atlantic. Retrieved 22 February 2017.

Further reading

Species Testudo horsfieldii at The Reptile Database

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