Hermann’s tortoise
Testudo hermanni
Has a shell of varying shades of green and brown and an elongated tail which they can use as a defence mechanism or to flip themselves over if they are on their back. As tortoises get older they grow additional layers of keratin on their shell. Weighs around 3 to 4 kilograms.
You can find our tortoises in the zoo’s Reptile House.
Fun fact
The sex of a tortoise is determined by the temperature of egg incubation.
Animal class
Reptile
Conservation status
They are at risk of becoming endangered in future and are threatened by habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
Habitat
Woodland – found in forests and shrubland in Southern Europe. They prefer dry habitats with little moisture.
Population
Unknown
Diet
Herbivore – easts leaves, plants and flowers.