| Range: |
Northern Egypt and northeastern Libya |
| Habitat: |
Deserts, scrublands, dry woodlands |
| Conservation Status: |
Critically endangered |
| Scientific Name: |
Testudo kleinmanni |
This tortoise lives in dry habitats, where it is active in the morning and late afternoon. It is small enough to crawl into a rodent burrow, slip into a crevice, or duck under a flat rock to take shelter during the heat of the day. At cooler times, its compact size allows the tortoise to quickly raise its body temperature to a comfortable level by basking in the sun. Destruction of habitat for farming and ranching is the primary threat to its survival.
|
