<Li> <P> Sardinian colouring </P> </Li> <P> The subspecies T. h . hercegovinensis, known as the Dalmatian tortoise, (Balkans coast) and the local T. h . peloponnesica (southwestern Peloponnesus coast) are now included here; they constitute local forms that are not yet geographically or in other ways reproductively isolated and apparently, derive from relict populations of the last ice age . The eastern Hermann's tortoises also have arched, almost round carapaces, but some are notably flatter and more oblong . The coloration is brownish with a yellow or greenish hue and with isolated black flecks . The coloring tends to wash out quite strongly in older animals . The underside is almost always solid horn color and has separate black patches on either side of the central seam . </P> <P> The head is brown to black, with fine scales . The forelegs similarly possess fine scales . The limbs generally have five claws, which are darkly colored at their base . The hind legs are noticeably thicker than the forelegs, almost plump . The particularly strong tail ends in a spike, which may be very large in older male specimens . Females have noticeably smaller tail spikes, which are slightly bent toward the body . </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> Adult female, Bulgaria </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Female T. h . boettgeri (left) and T. h . hercegovinensis tail openings </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Female T. h . peloponnesica </P> </Li> </Ul>

How many claws does a hermann tortoise have