Testudo graeca Linnaeus 1758 (Western Subspecies Clade: Testudo g. graeca, T. g. cyrenaica, T. g. marokkensis, T. g. nabeulensis, T. g. whitei) – Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise, Moorish Tortoise, Libyan Tortoise, Moroccan Tortoise, Tunisian Tortoise, Souss Valley Tortoise
Аннотация:The western subspecies clade of the Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise, Testudo graeca (Family Testudinidae) is comprised of small to medium-sized subspecies (maximum straight carapace lengths [SCL] <25 cm) native to northern Africa and southwestern Europe.In North Africa, Testudo graeca occurs in Mediterranean climates from humid to arid.In the Iberian Peninsula, it is restricted to subhumid, semi-arid, and arid regions.In North Africa, it reaches an altitude of 2090 m in the Haut Atlas (Morocco); in the Iberian Peninsula, it occurs at low elevations below 500 m.Testudo graeca is characterized by the presence of two spurs on the thighs, which are present in all subspecies except in 23% of specimens of T. graeca graeca.Adult females are on average larger (mean SCL = 15.5 cm, males mean SCL = 13.5 cm) and heavier than males (females mean body mass = 689 g, males mean body mass = 442 g).Females have proportionately shorter tails than males.Females produce 1-4 clutches of 1-8 eggs annually between April and July.The annual survival rate of adults is very high; it is estimated at over 90% in southern Spain.Population stability depends mainly on adult survival.The species is still relatively common and widespread in much of North Africa.However, European populations are endangered and in steep decline.In North Africa, the main threats to T. graeca are illegal collection for domestic and some international trade, degradation of habitats by overgrazing, and urbanization.In Europe, populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation of populations.In Northern Africa and southwestern Europe, there is a strong tradition of collecting individuals to be kept in gardens.In Mallorca and southeastern Spain, several captive breeding projects are being carried out to reintroduce specimens in regions where the species has been extirpated.distribution.-Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia.Introduced since historic times in the Balearic islands of Spain and western Sardinia, Italy.
