Morphometry and body mass index to assess health condition in captive population of Greek tortoise, Tesudo greaca

ABSTRACT

Body mass and morphometric data from a sample of captive Greek tortoise, Testudo greaca were collected to assess body condition based on linear association. Mass- length linear relationship differed between the sexes where mass-straight carapace length was strongly associated in males while mass- curved carapace length was strongly associated in females compared with other morphometric measures. Females were heavier, deeper and longer than males. Mass-length linear relationship was used to calculate the condition index log [M/m], where [M] is the observed mass and [m] is the predicted mass. The loss in body condition was recorded in 47% of females and 50% of males. The percentage of body condition loss ranged between 1.5 to 13% and 2.7 to 15.9% in females and males, respectively. The mass-length technique is a useful means of evaluating health and growth in tortoises