How difficult is it to keep Marginated Tortoise?

Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.

How large does Marginated Tortoise get?

Marginated Tortoise typically reaches Carapace up to 39cm, with typical adults at 30-38cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Marginated Tortoise?

Marginated Tortoise feeds on: Grasses, leaves, flowers, fruit and tortoise diet. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Marginated Tortoise?

The price of Marginated Tortoise varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Marginated Tortoise

Intermediate

Testudo marginata

The rear marginal scutes flare outwards like a skirt, which gives the tortoise its English and Japanese names; the specific name marginata means bordered. It is the largest Testudo, with a carapace to 39 cm, and the flare is most pronounced in males.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Lifespan

Fifty to seventy years under good care

Size

Carapace up to 39cm, with typical adults at 30-38cm

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Grasses, leaves, flowers, fruit and tortoise diet

About

Testudo marginata is the largest of the Mediterranean tortoises, with a carapace to 39 cm. The shell is elongated and rather flat, and the rear marginal scutes flare outwards like a skirt - the source of its English and Japanese names and of the specific name marginata, meaning bordered. The flare is strongest in males and weak in juveniles, and the plastron carries three or four pairs of triangular markings. It lives in dry scrubland and shelters in holes in the ground and rock crevices; the Peloponnese population digs burrows up to three metres deep. It aestivates in summer, and mountain populations of the nominate form also hibernate in winter. It is entirely herbivorous, eating grasses, leaves, flowers and fruit. Hardy and of manageable adult size, it is regarded as one of the easier tortoises, and only small numbers of European captive-bred animals reach Japan.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Size of the Marginated Tortoise

The Marginated Tortoise grows to Carapace up to 39cm, with typical adults at 30-38cm.

Basic Info

Origin

Greece including the Peloponnese and southern Albania, with introduced populations in Italy and Sardinia, in dry scrubland

Lifespan

Fifty to seventy years under good care

Size

Carapace up to 39cm, with typical adults at 30-38cm

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Care Specifications

PeacefulSolitaryBreeding: Moderate

Sources: Reptiles Magazine: Marginated Tortoise Information and Care / Wikipedia (Japanese): Marginated tortoise / Wikipedia (English): Marginated tortoise / Reptile Database

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Testudo marginata Schoepff, 1793

Synonyms: Testudo marginata Schoepff, 1793, Chersus marginatus (Wagler, 1830), Testudo weissingeri Bour, 1996

Authority databases: Reptile Database

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

CITES Appendix IIIUCN LC · Least Concern

Listed in CITES Appendix II at the family level (Testudinidae) in 1977 (current listing effective January 2, 2017). As an Appendix II species, registration certificates for international rare wildlife are not required. It does not fall under the designated animals listed in the Animal Protection and Management Act Enforcement Order, nor is it designated as a designated invasive species.

Sources: CITES Appendices / Ministry of the Environment: list of invasive alien species / Order for Enforcement of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals (designated dangerous animals)

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.