Egyptian tortoise: Testudo kleinmanni
In the Wild
Description:
 Small size, up to 5 inches
 High-domed, golden-colored shell, ranging from ivory to golden
 Males are smaller and more elongated than females, and have longer tails
Habitat and Range:
 Desert and semi-desert
 Ranges through North Africa from Libya to Israel
 Populations in Egypt thought to be extinct
 Can also be found in coastal salt-marsh habitats, dry woodlands and brushy areas of
scrub thorn
Diet
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Herbivorous
Specifics of diet in the wild are unknown, but is known in captivity to eat grasses, fruits,
and vegetables
Adaptations
 Gets most of its liquid from its food.
 The pale, reflective colors absorb less heat, allowing the tortoise to forage for longer
during the intense heat of the day
 Color also provides good camouflage in the species’ sandy, rocky habitat
Lifespan
 Over 50
Reproduction
 Lays 1 to 3 eggs in a hole in the ground, eggs hatch in 80 days
 Courtship and mating in the wild have only been observed in March, although
reproduction in captivity takes place in April and August to November.
Activity
 Most active in early morning and late afternoon.
Other “fun facts”
 Smallest tortoise species
 Poorly understood. We don’t know very much about them.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed by IUCN as critically endangered.
 Threatened by habitat loss due to house building, tourist development, and agriculture.
02/06/2013
Egyptian tortoise: Testudo kleinmanni
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Major threat is illegal collection for the pet trade. They reproduce slowly, so do not
recover well from over collection.
One of the most endangered species of tortoise.
Population thought to be around 7,470 in 2003 (down 85%)
At the Zoo
Statler was born at the zoo in 2002 and donated to the Education Department the same year.
He weighs 150 grams.
What We Can Do
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Make responsible pet choices – an Egyptian tortoise is not a good choice for a pet .
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle choices to help conserve natural resources
and habitat.
Support efforts to protect the species' natural habitats.
Support organizations working on sustainable captive breeding programs such as AZAaccredited zoos and aquariums.
References:
 Maryland Zoo Education Department
 www.arkive.org
 www.iucnredlist.org
 www.tortoisetrust.org
02/06/2013