Egyptian Tortoise

Description: Is a small desert living tortoise recognized for its high-domed, golden colored shell. The color of their shell can actually differ between shades of ivory, brown and bright straw color. Because of the light colors it allows the animal to forage longer in the shrubs that it eats. The colors also offer camouflage in the golden sands of the desert.

Habitats and Range: It is one of the the most poorly understood creatures that live in the basin. In the wild their mating season is in March and in captivity it's in April. The diets of wild Egyptian Tortoise in the wild is unknown but in captivity they eat grasses, fruits and vegetables. Formerly thought to be found in Libya, Egypt and Israel. The tortoise is now considered extinct in Egypt, because the small numbers are to small to be counted as a population. It can now be found in Libya Tripolitania, and Cyrenaica.

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.

Threats: Intensive collection and habitat loss are the main cause of their decrease in population.

Conservation: They are protected by law in Egypt though not in Libya.

References: Arkive

Photographer: Bassim Rabea