Reptiles
Egyptian Tortoise
Testudo kleinmanni · also called Kleinmann's tortoise
At dawn on the edge of the Libyan coastal desert, an Egyptian tortoise emerges from under a saltbush, its pale shell almost the colour of the sand.
Overview
The Egyptian tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni, is a Critically Endangered tortoise of coastal desert and scrub in northeastern Libya and northwestern Egypt. Its tiny size, straw-coloured shell, and collection for the pet trade make it one of the most threatened tortoises of the Mediterranean region.
A small tortoise in a hard place
The Egyptian tortoise lives in some of the driest habitat of any Mediterranean tortoise, relying on burrows and early-morning activity to survive.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a declining population.
Egyptian Tortoise: common questions
How big is the Egyptian tortoise?
It is one of the smallest tortoises in the world, with adults only around 10 to 12 cm long.
Why is the Egyptian tortoise Critically Endangered?
It was taken in large numbers for the pet trade, and its coastal desert habitat has been developed and degraded.
How does it survive in the desert?
It shelters in shallow burrows and under shrubs to escape the heat, and gets much of its water from the plants it eats.
Where is the Egyptian tortoise found?
It lives in coastal desert and scrub in northeastern Libya and northwestern Egypt, with small remaining populations in Israel.