Western Hermann’s Tortoise

A smaller size of 5 to 6″ for females and 4 to 5″ for males usually
A carapace with the highest point situated toward the center or front usually
A divided supracaudal shield
The presence of inguinal scutes on both sides of the bridge usually
A narrow and sleek head
A rounder overall appearance with minimal flaring at the back
The pectoral scute seam on the plastron is shorter than that of the femoral
A vibrant, rich, yellow or golden ground color on the carapace and plastron
Well defined and sharply contrasting black markings on the carapace
A visible “key hole” or “mushroom cloud” symbol on the fifth vertebral scute
Two longitudinal, jet black bands, running parallel on the plastron, along the mid-line or suture.
Gular scutes are either free of any black pigment or have markings separated from the general black bands
Anal scutes accompanied by black pigment sometimes separated from the general black bands
Skin and nail color typically light to gray

Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise

A larger size of 7 to 9″ for females and 5 to 7″ for males and even bigger
A carapace with the highest point situated toward the back or sometimes middle
A undivided or divided supracaudal shield
The presence of inguinal scutes on both sides of the bridge
A bulky, rounded and robust or even boxy head
A more trapezoidal overall appearance with flaring at the back especially in males
The pectoral scute seam on the plastron is longer than that of the femoral sometimes but not always
A toned down, drab, straw or brown-yellow ground color on the carapace and plastron
Less defined black markings on the carapace with hues of brown sometimes infused
A fifth vertebral scute lacking any design or symbol or a symbol not as clear
Two longitudinal, black bands, running parrallel on the plastron, broken up, separated, blotchy or faded or even completely lacking
Gular scutes may or may not have any dark pigment
Anal scutes accompanied by black pigment or completely lacking it
Skin and nail color typically dark, grey to brown, greenish or almost black in some specimens

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