ASSESSING THE USE OF MICROCHIP TRANSPONDERS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION
OF NEONATAL HERMANN’S TORTOISES (TESTUDO HERMANNI)
T. Hellebuyck*, PhD, DVM, F. Pasmans, PhD, DVM, Dipl ECZM (Herpetology),
A. Martel, PhD, DVM, Dipl ECZM (Wildlife population health)
The Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian diseases,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
ABSTRACT
International conventions dictate reliable identification of various reptile species which are subject
to intensive trade targeting and habitat destruction. As a rule, CITES A-listed tortoises with a
minimal plastron length of 10 cm can be fitted with a microchip transponder. The development of
new generations of transponders may offer the possibility to identify even smaller individuals. This
study evaluated the use of microchip transponders in neonatal Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo
hermanni) using two groups of 30 captive bred tortoises. Microchips were implanted in the first
group of tortoises and the second group served as a control group. During a 10 month observation
period, including 2 months of hibernation, both groups were evaluated for short- as well as longterm effects of microchip implantation. During this period growth and weight curves were compared
and radiographs were obtained from all animals immediately following microchip implantation, 4
weeks later and at the end of the observation period to detect possible loss or migration of
implanted microchips and to evaluate skeletal mineralization. Microchip implantation did not elicit
significant discrepancies between both groups of tortoises and resulted in unambiguous and
permanent identification.
AUTHOR ADDRESS:
T. Hellebuyck, PhD, DVM
The Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian diseases
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Ghent University
Salisburylaan 133
Merelbeke 9820
Belgium.
e-mail: Tom.Hellebuyck@UGent.be