Marginated tortoise

Marginated tortoises, are active personable and fairly easy to care for.  They get their name from their beautiful flared shells that are seen as they mature.  Marginteds are a member of the Hermann’s tortoise family and are quite rare in the pet market as they are known for being difficult to breed in captivity when compared to other tortoises. Baby Hermann’s tortoise for sale are similar in appearance and personality.

Marginated tortoises are from the Tesudo tortoise family, which also includes the Greek tortoise, Russian tortoise, and Egyptian tortoise for sale.

The marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) is a beautiful species of tortoise that occurs primarily in the southern parts of Greece and Italy, with a few isolated populations on islands in those areas. Its range overlaps with that of the Hermann’s tortoise (T. hermanni) in some areas, but wild specimens of the two are not known to hybridize to any major extent (unlike in captivity, where marginated tortoises have been known to hybridize with various other species, including Hermann’s, Russian [T. horsfieldii] and Greek

Marginated tortoises are quite prolific in captivity and captive-bred babies are commonly available in the U.S. They are also produced in large numbers in Europe.

Adult marginated tortoises are recognized most easily by the intense flaring of the rear of their shells, somewhat resembling a skirt. Juvenile shell coloration is contrasting black and pearly white; the intensity of this coloration fades over time, sometimes to a nearly universal dark gray. The skin of babies and adults is primarily black, sometimes with pearly white highlights on top of their heads.

The species’ wild habitat is mostly arid, and marginated tortoises can be found at elevations up to 5,000 feet, and in some very cold areas. The dark shell color helps individuals to warm up in the sun during the morning hours, and they will retreat to shade and shelter during the hottest parts of the day.