Morphological and mitochondrial variation of spur-thighed tortoises, Testudo graeca, in Turkey

Testudo graeca has a wide distribution under different geographic, climatic and ecological conditions, and shows high morphological differences especially in the Asian (Middle Eastern and Caucasian) parts of the range. This study investigates morphometric and genetic differentiation in the T graeca complex in Turkey using the densest sampling to date. We sequenced two mt-DNA loci (ND4 and cyt b) of 199 samples and combined them with previously published data. Bayesian analysis yielded six well-supported clades, four of which occur in Turkey (ibera, terrestris, armeniaca and buxtoni). The armeniaca mtDNA Glade locally represents a morphometrically distinct burrowing ecomorph. However, previous studies have shown that individuals outside Turkey possessing armeniaca mtDNA lack the distinctive armeniaca morphotype we observed, precluding taxonomic conclusions.