Publisher's Synopsis
TThe Russian tortoise, additionally referred to as the Afghan, steppe, four-toed, or Horsfield's tortoise, is determined in southeastern Russia, Azerbaijan, southern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Afghanistan, northwestern China, and Pakistan. This tortoise's habitat includes dry steppe and it prefers dry areas with sparse flora up to 2500 m in altitude. Testudo horsfieldii are normally discovered near water; their environmental choices include grasslands, forests, and savannah.Russian tortoises are one of the smaller species of genus Testudo, measuring up to 20 cm (8 in) in duration. Adult length ranges from 12-20 cm (5-8 in). Russian tortoises are sexually dimorphic, with women barely larger than adult males.The carapace is broad, rounded, and "stocky" or dorsoventrally flattened. The shell is usually greenish-brown to black, fading to yellow among the scutes with a yellowish-brown body. This characteristic shape may own a dorsal ridge.The Russian tortoise may be outstanding from other contributors of genus Testudo with the aid of: Lacking the movable plastron hinge among the femoral and the stomach scutesPossessing a horny claw or spur on the quit of its tail in addition to tubercles or enlarged scales on the edges of its tail and thighs (see left)The presence of most effective 4, as opposed to 5, ft on each forefootA tall bridge and lateral scutes, which makes it clean for this species to protect itself via chickening out deep within its shellFemales are slightly large with flared scutes on their shells even as men have an extended tail, which is generally tucked to the facet
