Horsfield's Tortoise

The Russian tortoise, also known by various names such as the Afghan tortoise, Central Asian tortoise, Horsfield's tortoise, four-clawed tortoise, and steppe tortoise, is a threatened species native to Central Asia. Unfortunately, human activities in its natural habitat are endangering this species.

The name "Horsfield's tortoise" honors the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield. Initially classified under the genus Testudo, it was reclassified in 1966 to the monotypic genus Agrionemys, making its current scientific name Agrionemys horsfieldii. Although there are mentions of potential subspecies, they are not widely recognized.

Russian tortoises are small, with females typically growing slightly larger than males. They exhibit clear sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females have noticeable physical differences, such as tail length, claw size, and vent shape. Remarkably, these tortoises can live up to 100 years and spend about 9 months of the year in dormancy.

When kept as pets, Russian tortoises thrive on a diet of dark leafy greens, lamb’s lettuce, and plantain. It is crucial to provide them with water, and they should be soaked in warm water regularly. Interestingly, owning a Russian tortoise does not require a CITES Article X certificate.

In a fascinating piece of history, two Russian tortoises were part of the Zond 5 mission in 1968, making them the first Earth creatures to travel to the Moon and return safely.