Russian Tortoise
Testudo horsfieldii
- Class
- Reptile
- Family
- Testudinidae
- Genus
- Testudo
- Also known as
- Agrionemys horsfieldii, Horsfield's tortoise
Russian Tortoise care at a glance
- Adult length
- 13–25 cm (5–10 in)
- Adult weight
- 0.5–1.5 kg (1.1–3.3 lb)
- Lifespan
- 40–60 years
- Basking / warm side
- 35–38 °C (95–100 °F)
- Cool side
- 21–24 °C (70–75 °F)
- Night minimum
- 15 °C (59 °F)
- Humidity
- 30–50%
- UVB
- Essential
- Diet
- Herbivore: weeds and leafy greens, high in fibre
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Lifestyle
- Terrestrial
Length is carapace length.
Typical values from common keeping practice, not yet reviewed. Individual animals and setups vary.
Russian Tortoise research
65 published papers in the HerpAtlas library. Most cited below, or see the latest research →
- Sexual dimorphism in steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii): influence of the environment and sexual selection on body shape and mobility
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society · 2001 · cited 144 times
- Cryptosporidium testudinis sp. n., Cryptosporidium ducismarci Traversa, 2010 and Cryptosporidium tortoise genotype III (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in tortoises.
Folia parasitologica · 2016 · cited 35 times
- Threats to Mediterranean (West Palaearctic) tortoises and their effects on wild populations: an overview
Amphibia-Reptilia · 1984 · cited 27 times
- Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia · 2013 · cited 27 times
- Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe.
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc · 2017 · cited 26 times
- Prevalence of Mycoplasma agassizii and Chelonian herpesvirus in captive tortoises (Testudo sp.) in the United Kingdom.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians · 2004 · cited 25 times
- Evidence for a new species of Cryptosporidium infecting tortoises: Cryptosporidium ducismarci.
Parasites & vectors · 2010 · cited 24 times · open access
- Comparative morphology of the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system in various vertebrates.
Journal of bone and mineral metabolism · 2011 · cited 24 times
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