Spur-thighed tortoise

The general distribution of the species covers the Mediterranean coasts of Europe and many of the Mediterranean islands; to the east – to western Iran, Syria and Northern Iraq. It is also found on the north coast of Africa. It is widespread on the Balkan Peninsula in its southeastern half. In Bulgaria it is found almost in the whole country without its northwestern parts; single individuals transferred from other places can be found there. In the mountains of Southwestern Bulgaria, it is found up to about 1 300 m above sea level. In the valley of the Struma River it is found north to the town of Zemen (very rare in the Kyustendil field).

The Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is daily active species with highest activity in the spring. On the back of the thighs there is a large low-conical horn spike with a blunt tip. Compared to the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni), it is a significantly more mobile species and performs longer migrations. During the summer heat it migrates from open, dry and sunny terrains to wetter places (valleys, riparian forest and shrub formations). For wintering it is buried in the soil usually on the southern slopes. It feeds mainly on herbaceous plants (various composites and legumes, but also many others), less often on fallen fruits (greengages, pears, etc.). The menu also includes small invertebrates. Copulation is in April-May, rarely in autumn. Sexual maturity occurs after the eighth year in males and after the tenth in females. In May-July, the tortoise lays 2 or 3 times 2 to 8 almost globular eggs, which it burrows into holes in the soil. The incubation lasts from 70 to over 100 days. Life expectancy reaches over 100 years (in artificial conditions). Inhabits open areas with grass vegetation, rare shrubs and low-stemmed forests. The highest population density is on the edge of deciduous forests, in sparse oak forests and in semi-steppe areas with sparse shrub vegetation. It is also found on coastal sand dunes near deciduous forests.

Unfavorable-inadequate.

The Spur-thighed tortoise is a protected species included in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA) and Annex II of the Bern Convention. The species is also included in Annex II and Annex IV of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). The Spur-thighed is part of the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (2015) with category “Endangered” (EN) and also included in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species with category Vulnerable (VU).

*Note: For the description of amphibians and reptiles is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Biserkov, V. (Editor), 2007. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Bulgaria. Sofia, Green Balkans, 196 pp.; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).