Tortoises on Herpeton Academy

Indian Star Tortoise

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Geochelone elegans is the currently accepted scientific name. In hobby and conservation material, the species is widely known as the Indian star tortoise.

English common names used in the hobby:

Indian star tortoise
Star tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Indische Sternschildkrote

📌 Description

Geochelone elegans is a medium-sized Asian tortoise famous for the radiating star pattern on the shell. Adults commonly reach around 20-30 cm depending on sex and origin, and females often become larger than males.

Red-Footed Tortoise

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Chelonoidis carbonarius is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in parts of the hobby, the species is still often seen as Chelonoidis carbonaria.

English common names used in the hobby:

Red-footed tortoise
Red-foot tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Rotfuss-Schildkrote
Rotfussschildkrote

📌 Description

The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) is a medium-sized South American tortoise known for the red, orange, or yellow scales on the legs and head. It is a popular captive species because it stays more manageable than giant tortoises and usually adapts well to warm, humid captive setups when kept correctly.

Russian Tortoise

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Testudo horsfieldii is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in parts of the pet trade, the species is still often listed as Agrionemys horsfieldii.

English common names used in the hobby:

Russian tortoise
Horsfield’s tortoise
Central Asian tortoise
Afghan tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Vierzehenschildkrote
Steppenschildkrote

📌 Description

The Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) is a small, active, and highly terrestrial tortoise from Central Asia. It is one of the most commonly kept tortoise species because adults stay more manageable in size than many Mediterranean or African tortoises, but it is still a long-lived animal that can live for decades with correct care.

Greek Tortoise

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Testudo graeca is the currently accepted scientific name.

This name is used for a broad and variable species complex, so older locality labels and trade names may refer to regional forms rather than to a different accepted species name.

English common names used in the hobby:

Greek tortoise
Spur-thighed tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Marginated Tortoise

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Testudo marginata is the currently accepted scientific name.

In care literature and in trade, this species is usually treated as a distinct Mediterranean Testudo without a major recent genus change.

English common names used in the hobby:

Marginated tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Breitrandschildkröte

📌 Description

The marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) is the largest European member of the genus Testudo. It is a diurnal, active, and long-lived Mediterranean species that can live for decades when kept properly.

Sulcata Tortoise

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Centrochelys sulcata is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in parts of the pet trade, the species was often listed as Geochelone sulcata.

The latest renames that hobbyists most often encounter are:

Geochelone sulcata -> Centrochelys sulcata (modern tortoise taxonomy places the species in Centrochelys)

Older names and combinations associated with the species include:

Hermann's Tortoise

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Testudo hermanni is the currently accepted scientific name.

In husbandry and conservation literature, the two subspecies most often mentioned are T. h. hermanni and T. h. boettgeri.

English common names used in the hobby:

Hermann’s tortoise

German common names used in the hobby:

Griechische Landschildkröte

📌 Description

Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is one of the most recognizable land tortoises in Europe. It is a diurnal, active, and long-lived species that can live for decades when kept properly.

Leopard Tortoise

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Stigmochelys pardalis is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in parts of the pet trade, the species was often listed as Geochelone pardalis.

The latest renames that hobbyists most often encounter are:

Geochelone pardalis -> Stigmochelys pardalis (modern tortoise taxonomy separates the species from Geochelone)

Older names and combinations associated with the species include: