Based on the critical review of literature published in last 22 years, an attempt was made to evaluate current knowledge gap distribution and status native Testudines taxa occurring Sicily (namely Caretta caretta, Emys trinacris, Testudo hermanni hermanni), as well available only non-native species with putative viable populations island, i.e., Trachemys scripta. Summarizing information, all sh...

A study on the parasitofauna of 7 species of Iraqi reptiles revealed the presence of at least 8 adult helminth species and some tentatively identified larvae. The reptiles were Hemidactylus flaviviridis, H. persicus, Asaccus elisae, Spalerosophis d. cliffordi, Testudo g. terrestris, Mauremys c. caspica and Trionyx euphraticus. The helminths found comprised 1 species of digenetic trematodes (Tel...

The goal of this study was to analyze circulating cortisol levels from tortoises (Testudo hermanni) to establish reference intervals and to develop guidelines for the interpretation of the effect of handling and transport stress. Blood samples were obtained from the caudal venous from 23 healthy juvenile tortoises (9 males and 14 females), aged 8-20 years, in basal condition, four weeks prior t...