Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post your pictures and any questions here of European tortoises e.g. Ibera Spur Thigh, Ibera Graeca, Marginated, Hermanns, Kleinmanni and we include the Horsfield tortoise. Also, do add pictures of Mediterranean tortoises you have seen in the wild.
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Helen
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Joined: 14 Mar 2017, 13:30

Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by Helen » 30 May 2017, 15:12

[attachment=2]Red Spot 1_290517_IMG_4665 copy.JPG[/attachment]
[attachment=1]Blue Spot 1_300517_IMG_4673.JPG[/attachment]
[attachment=0]Blue Spot 1_300517_IMG_4674.JPG[/attachment]

I thought some of you might be interested to see this.

The picture of the tortoise starting to emerge from the shell was taken yesterday. This is to demonstrate that the tortoise emerges from the widest part of the oval shaped egg.

The other two pictures are of the tortoise taken just five minutes after hatching. The tortoise is still moist and the vermiculite that the eggshell has been resting on is still stuck to the hatchling. It will come off as soon as the tortoise has a nice soak in the bath later on today. Note the mishapen carapace. The shell is soft at this stage and the tortoise will soon stretch to give the correct shape, which is either round or slightly oval. Also note the demarkation across the width of the plastron. This shows how the growing fetus fit inside the oval shaped egg and as it literally double itself in half head to tail. This little tortoise weighs just 19 gr.
Attachments
Blue Spot 1_300517_IMG_4674.JPG
Notice the line across the width where the tortoise was doubled over within the shell
Blue Spot 1_300517_IMG_4673.JPG
Notice the width is longer than the length
Red Spot 1_290517_IMG_4665 copy.JPG
Emerging tortoise but notice the shape of the egg
Helen

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Nina
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Joined: 16 Mar 2017, 11:22

Re: Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by Nina » 30 May 2017, 15:45

Those are great photos, Helen -- and such interesting information too (it's amazing how they are all folded up inside that shell by the time they are ready to hatch)! Thanks for posting!

Nina

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lin
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Joined: 16 Mar 2017, 11:27

Re: Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by lin » 30 May 2017, 18:26

So exciting to see how it happens.

Lin

Bex
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Joined: 16 Mar 2017, 19:37

Re: Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by Bex » 03 Jun 2017, 17:21

Seriously amazing...thank you for showing us, can't believe my 2 started like that!!

Heather
Posts: 72
Joined: 11 Jun 2017, 16:23

Re: Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by Heather » 11 Jun 2017, 21:22

:o

Wow....absolutely WOW!!! I had no idea, &, to be honest, had never thought about how a hard-shelled beastie fitted in an egg!

Thank you so much for this insight, Bex.

Again...WOW.... :shock:

Heather

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Helen
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Joined: 14 Mar 2017, 13:30

Re: Newly Hatched Horsfield Tortoise

Post by Helen » 12 Jun 2017, 15:11

The same tortoise age 2 weeks.
Attachments
IMG_4753.JPG
Plastron has straightened and remains of yolk sac visible
IMG_4755.JPG
Length from head to toe of carapace longer than width
Helen

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