Hermann's Tortoise

• The sex of the hatchlings depends on incubation temperature: at 30°C they are female, at 26°C male.
• Its lifespan may be underestimated and could exceed 80 to 90 years, judging by related species.
• It is one of the most popular pet tortoises in Europe.
• anatomíaIt can live for several decades in the wild, and its yearly growth shows as visible rings on the plates of its shell, much like the rings of a tree.

Skeleton type

Vertebrate - bony skeleton with a fused shell (reptile)

Habitat & environment

Mediterranean woodland, scrub and dense vegetation of southern Europe

Birth weight

Small egg; the hatchling's shell 1.5-2 inches (~4-5 cm) long

Size at birth

Shell 1.5-2 inches (~4-5 cm) long on hatching

Sexual maturity

Variable, the female generally before the male; the shell hardens fully between 6 and 8 years

Gestation / incubation

60-90 days

Litter / clutch size

2 to 12 eggs per clutch, with the chance of several clutches a season

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnimalSpot; PMC (unhatched eggs study); AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Wikipedia (Hermann's tortoise); Tortoise Resource Center; Tortoise Town

Best time: From March to June, in mid-morning, when it basks and is most active; at the height of summer it slows down, and in winter it hibernates buried.