Greek Tortoise Deep Dive with Chris Leone
About this episode
This episode features a deep dive into Mediterranean tortoises with Chris Leone, exploring their conservation and the complexities of their subspecies.
Welcome back to Turtle Tea with TTPG - the definitive Turtle and Tortoise Podcast! In this episode, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Chris Leone of Garden State Tortoise to do a deep dive into the complex and often confusing world of Mediterranean tortoises. Chris shares the incredible personal story that sparked his lifelong obsession with the Testudo genus, involving a 1990s flight from Italy and a tortoise in a purse, before pivoting into the cutting-edge science of chelonian preservation. We discuss the limits of relying purely on morphology, the historical impact of the pet trade, and the shocking reality of hybrid genetics occurring right now in the wild. Whether you keep Greek tortoises ( Testudo graeca ), Hermann’s tortoises ( Testudo hermanni ), or are just passionate about reptile conservation, this episode is packed with essential insights on keeping subspecies and localities pure and managing captive collections responsibly. Episode Q&A Q: How many subspecies of Greek tortoises ( Testudo graeca ) actually exist? A: It is a heavily loaded and debated question in taxonomy. While some splitters classify up to 20 distinct variations, most current consensus lands…
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