Types of Tortoise (Species)

Tortoises are lovely creatures of the wild. Some people have domesticated and kept them as pets; they can be adorable to keep around. However, you may notice some distinctions like dietary preferences between tortoises that live in the wild and those we keep as pets. 

In the wild, tortoises are free to roam and get their food. Some species live longer this way, coupling their diets with environmental needs. As pets, they may require keen attention and a good mimic of the wild surroundings for their development and general health.

They are reptiles that feed on vegetables, among other vegetation. As herbivores, they do well on grass and weeds; when kept as pets, they could do with hay and occasional fruits. They are not the biggest fans of insects, mollusks, worms, or other animal-based diets.

Nevertheless, a few tortoise species can take animal-based foods. Therefore, it is good to determine your tortoise type and the foods that work best for it. It is as good to find out what to avoid feeding your pet tortoise for its healthy development.

If you think of getting a tortoise for your family or home, it will help if you knew that tortoises do not swim, unlike turtles. Turtles are adapted to their environments. You will notice that most turtle species are aquatic, while some are semi-aquatic.

Therefore, turtles not only do well in mushy or aquatic environments but are also good swimmers. On the other hand, tortoises are not adapted to such environments since they spend most, if not all, their lives on dry land. They may not be equipped for swimming and, therefore, can drown.

To keep a turtle as a pet, a pond would, or aquarium would come quite handy. However, the case is different with tortoises. Nevertheless, some tortoise types may enjoy a chill in the water, but only within shallow depths; too far deep could be life-threatening.

With the many tortoise species, it can be difficult to determine what works best for you. Moreover, animal lovers would do with some information about the available types. In this article, we will look into the various tortoise types. They are as follows:

Speckled Tortoise

The speckled tortoise tops our list of some of the smallest types. You may know it as the speckled padloper or the speckled cape. It belongs to the Testudinidae family and the Chersoibius genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 2.4 to 3.9 inches.

The tortoise has black outlines and spots on its shell of golden-beige color. Its lifespan is at least 100 years, but it can live longer.

Egyptian Tortoise

The Egyptian tortoise is another type with a long lifespan and attractive color. You may also know it as the Kleinmann’s tortoise or Leith’s tortoise. It belongs to the Testudinidae family and the Testudo genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 5 inches and can live for well up to 70 to 100 years. The tortoise looks brown and golden-yellow.

Russian Tortoise

You may also know the Russian tortoise as the Horsefield tortoise. It belongs to the Testudinidae family and the Agrionemys genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 5 to 10 inches and can live for well up to 40 years. The tortoise is black in color and has some yellow.

Greek Tortoise

You may also know the Greek tortoise as the Spur Thigh Tortoise. It belongs to the Testudinidae family and the Testudo genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 5 to 11 inches and can live for well up to 125 years, making it one of the types with the longest lifespans. The tortoise looks brown and golden-yellow.

Hermann’s Tortoise

The Hermann’s tortoise belongs to the Testudinidae family and, like the Greek tortoise, the Testudo genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 7.5 inches and live for 75 years. The tortoise looks black and golden-yellow.

Pancake Tortoise

You may also know the pancake tortoise as the Tornier’s tortoise. It belongs to the Testudinidae family and the Malacochersus genus. Summarily, it can grow to an average of 7 inches and has a lifespan of 25 years, making it one of the types with the shortest lifespans. The like the Greek tortoise, the pancake tortoise looks brown and golden-yellow.

More Tortoise Species

Other tortoise types that are as small as the ones we have looked at include the Gopher Tortoise, the Hingeback Tortoise, the Indian Star Tortoise, and the Elongated Tortoise.

Medium-sized tortoises of between 13 and 24 inches include the Desert Tortoise, the Red-Footed Tortoise, the Marginated Tortoise, the Burmese Star Tortoise, the Impressed Tortoise, the Angonoka Tortoise, the Yellow Foot Tortoise, and the Radiated Tortoise.

Larger tortoises of above 25 inches include the Leopard Tortoise, the Sulcata Tortoise, the Aldabra Tortoise, and the Galapagos Tortoise.