Detailed Description:
Russian Tortoise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testudo_horsfieldi
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Testudo (disputed)
Species: T. horsfieldii
Binomial name: Testudo horsfieldii
The Russian Tortoise, Horsfield's Tortoise or Central Asian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii, but see "Systematics" below) is a species of tortoise that is a popular pet. It is named after the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield.
Deion
Russian tortoises are a small tortoise species, ranging from about 15 to 25 cm (6-10 inches). They are sexually dimorphic in that the females grow slightly larger, males tend to have a longer tail that is generally tucked to the side, and females tend to have flared scutes on their shells, while males do not. Coloration varies, but the shell is usually a ruddy brown or black, fading to yellow between the scutes, and the body itself straw-yellow and brown.
Systematics
This species is traditionally placed in Testudo. Due to distinctly different morphological characteristics, the monotypic genus Agrionemys was proposed for it in 1966. DNA sequence analysis generally concurs, but not too robustly so. Some sources also list three separate subspecies of Russian Tortoise, but they are not widely accepted by taxonomists:
Testudo horsfieldii horsfieldii (Gray, 1844) – Afghanistan/Pakistan and southern Central Asia.
Testudo horsfieldii kazachstanica (Chkhikvadze, 1988) – Kazakhstan/Karakalpakhstan.
Testudo horsfieldii rustamovi (Chkhikvadze, Amiranschwili & Atajew, 1990) – southwestern Turkmenistan.
Distribution and ecology
The Russian Tortoise ranges from Afghanistan to north-western China, through the countries of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Pakistan. It usually lives in dry areas with sparse vegetation.
Russian tortoises hibernate during winter and estivate during the summer when temperatures are high. They are avid burrowers and can dig large burrows that might be two meters (six feet) long. They are herbivorous, and active grazers when the temperature is right, consuming a wide variety of weeds and grasses. In captivity, suitable foodplants include:
Lactuca sativa lettuce, especially Romaine and green and red Looseleaf cultivars
Dandelions, a favorite
Relationship with humans
In the wild, the Russian Tortoise is considered vulnerable to extinction in the mid-long term. Human construction encroaching upon its habitat is the main cause of endangerment; it is also hunted locally for use in folk medicine. Trade in wild animals is restricted, and captive-breds should be preferred as pets as they are hardier. They also tend to be less shy than other turtles and have an appealing, pugnacious temperament.
In captivity
Russian tortoises are popular pets primarily because of their small size, but they are also an extremely hardy species. While captive breeding is still not commonplace (though it is done), wild caught specimens adapt well to captivity and readily consume a wide variety of fiberous greens, grasses and vegetables. They will also eat fruit, (apples are one of the best choices) but should only be given it in very small quantities, as excess sugars can cause bacterial blooms in their stomachs.
First tortoise in space
The first tortoise in space, and one of the first animals of any kind in deep space was a Russian Tortoise, sent by the Soviet Union (along with wine flies, mealworms and other biological specimens) on a circumlunar voyage from September 14 to September 21, 1968.