Morphological Divergence of Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania.

Ozan Gündemir,Sokol Duro,Tefik Jashari,Tomasz Szara,Bektaş Sönmez

doi:10.3390/ani11010134

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe morphology of chelonians provides basic information about development, evolution, biodiversity, biomechanics, behavior, ecology, and physiology. Furthermore, it has also played an important role in characterizing populations and analyzing the similarities between populations. This study investigates the morphological variation of Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) between specimens from five different populations in Albania. It also provides basic data on the morphological characteristics of the Hermann’s tortoise. Hermann’s tortoise in the Albanian population were regionally diverged into three different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati, and Ballshi), and southern (Saranda) Albania. Moreover, female individuals were larger and heavier than male individuals, and the females followed Bergmann’s rule. The morphological divergences may be due to molecular variations or environmental conditions of the regions.Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations may reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, we gathered basic data on the morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (p = 0.0001) and heavier (p = 0.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass were 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females, and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The Albanian T. h. boettgeri were regionally diverged into three different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati, and Ballshi), and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length (CCL)) of females was positively correlated (r = 0.216; p = 0.025) with the latitude, in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted.

Highlights

Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is a terrestrial species that is widespread in the European Mediterranean region
Female Albanian Hermann’s tortoises were found to be larger and heavier than males, a finding that was compatible with previous studies
The existence of a female-biased population was determined, and the Albanian population was morphologically divided into three groups

Summary

Introduction

Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is a terrestrial species that is widespread in the European Mediterranean region. It is one of the herpetofauna species of Albania, which can be found in an area ranging from the shores of the sea to an altitude of approximately. Most populations of Hermann’s tortoise are found below 500 m [1,2,3]. The most common habitats of the Hermann’s tortoise are agricultural lands, canals, hilly grasslands, areas of sparse vegetation, and land near forests. Due to the overuse of tortoises for the pet trade, serious declines in their populations have been observed [5].

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