horsefield/russian tortoise?

Question

I know there are two sub-species of horsefield tortoises but im finding it difficult to obtain information on the long- beaked species and would appreciate any information, thanks.

the tortoise does NOT have a long beak due it being over grown this species has an elongated BEAK and belongs to the horsefield variety of species

Answer 1

Amazes me that people bother to answer just to say "I don't know"....

There are actually three sub-species of T. horsefieldii: T. horsfieldii horsfieldii, T. horsfieldii kazachtanica, and T. horsfieldii rustmovi.

Which species are you trying to get information on and are you sure you are looking for a horsefieldii subspecies?

When most people describe a tortoise with a "long beak", what they are usually describing is a tortoise that has been improperly kept and has an overgrown beak.

There is a Parrot Beaked Tortoise-Homopus areolatus, but it is neither from Asia, nor a Testudo tortoise. It is from South Africa.

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/russiantortoises.htm

Answer 2

"There are at least three recognized subspecies of Testudo horsfieldii: T. horsfieldii kazachtanica, T. horsfieldii rustmovi and T. horsfieldii horsfieldii. While there are no differences in care presently offered based on subspecies, there are (in press) reports of varying success in captive breeding based on subspecies and differences in the varying subspecies ability to acclimate to captivity"

- Darrel Senneke, http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/russiantortoises.htm

It is hard to get agreement on the subspecies of Russians, as with many other species. While this species is heavily collected for the pet trade and other purposes, there is a lot we do not know about its natural history.

Personally, I have never heard of a Russian sub-species called the 'long-beaked'. How did you determine that this was the right name?

Answer 3

Sorry i know nothing about russian tortoises except that my mate has just bought one and it's class