Testudo kleinmanni-  Egyptian tortoise        Origin: Africa

This is one of the most diminutive species of tortoise.  It is also easily one of the MOST fragile.  I have never worked on/with a more sensitive species of tortoise.  Even small changes in the animal's environment are enough to throw these animals off.  They are also extremely susceptible to disease if exposed to other species.  This is not a species for the beginning tortoise enthusiast. 

Links to further information on T. kleinmanni:

Recent information and pictures at the most complete site on the web: World Chelonian Trust- www.chelonia.org

husbandry article: http://www.tortoise.org/archives/kleinhus.html

husbandry article: http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/bcgonweb/egypt.html

Tortoise Trust field information: http://www.user.globalnet.co.uk/~ttrust/page10.htm

Fieldwork by studentsi: http://members.tripod.com/~haegong/tortoise/1tortoise.htm  

pictures: http://www.tortoise.org/gallery/picklein.html

bibliography:  http://www.tortoise.org/archives/kleinbib.html

Latin naming:  http://www.tortoise.org/archives/kleinnam.html

Predation problems: http://www.nytts.org/proceedings/geffen-a.htm

Vocalizations: http://www.tortoise.org/tortcall.html