ИСТИНА

Four subspecies of Testudo graeca inhabit the Caucasus: T. g. nikolski – the western part of the Caucasus, T. g. ibera – valley of Kura River and Lankaran lowlands, T. g. pallasi – at the Caspian coast, T. g. armeniaca – in the valley of Arax river. However, the validity only of subspecies T. g. nikolski and T. g. pallasi is confirmed at the genetic level. Investigations of T.g. conducted since 1980 brought together an impressive material about its biology, ecology and biogeography. Maximum T. g. nikolski population density reaches 10 ind./ha on the gentle slopes of the southwestern and southern exposure within 100 m above sea level and is covered with bushes, shiblyak, rock-oak forests and woodlands of juniper and pistachio. Demographic structure is stable throughout many decades, adult males and females older than 20 years dominate. Others, mostly the younger generation are more variable in size, due to other, including anthropogenous causes. Probably, the age limit for T. g. nikolski is approximately 70 years. Investigation of excrement and observations of the behavior showed that besides the main plant food tortoises consume carrion, eggs and nestlings of the birds. In summer, water shortage compensates direct drinking. Hyalomma aegyptium is the outside parasite, sometimes the density of the tick reaches 50-55 ind. per tortoise. Density of T. g. pallasi on the Caspian coastal sand, covered with sparse shrubs and trees and or at the coastal winter pastures is not more than 5 ind./ha. Mediterranean tortoise ecologically is very plastic. Utrish reserve was organized in 2010, there is a significant population of T. g. nikolski.