A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann’s tortoise BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1)  September 2016: 53-55 Nikolić, M. et al.  A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann's tortoise... 53 Short Communication Received: 26 December 2015 Revised: 15 February 2016 Accepted: 01 June 2016 A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) Marko Nikolić1,2*, Dimitrija Savić1,2, Maja Ilić1,2, Dragana Stojadinović1, Jelka Crnobrnja- Isailović1,3 1Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia 2Biological Society “Dr. Sava Petrović”, Visegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia 3Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia * E-mail: zerocool.axl@gmail.com Abstract: Nikolić, M., Savić, D., Ilić, M., Stojadinović, D., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.: A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni). Biologica Nyssana, 7 (1), September 2016: 53-55. Report of the first observation of scavenging behaviour in the population of Testudo hermanni boettgeri that has been monitored for six years in the village Kunovica near the city of Niš in Serbia. On 31 May 2015 at 10:18 a.m., the adult tortoise was observed while eating a dead European green lizard (Lacerta viridis). Key words: Testudo hermanni, diet, scavenging behavior, Serbia Apstrakt: Nikolić, M., Savić, D., Ilić, M., Stojadinović, D., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.: Beleška o strvinarskom ponašanju kod adulta šumske kornjače (Testudo hermanni). Biologica Nyssana, 7 (1), Septembar 2016: 53- 55. Beleška o prvom zapažanju strvinarskog ponašanja u populaciji šumske kornjače Testudo hermanni boettgeri, čiji monitoring se sprovodi već šest godina u selu Kunovica, u blizini grada Niša u Srbiji. Adultna kornjača je uočena prilikom hranjenja lešinom zelembaća (Lacerta viridis) 31. Maja 2015. u 10:18. Key words: Testudo hermanni, ishrana, strvinarsko ponašanje, Srbija Introduction Testudinidae is the family of terrestrial chelonians (i.e. tortoises) which are, apart from a few species of lizards, the only terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates with generalized herbivorous or omnivorous feeding habits (D e l V e c c h i o et al., 2011). L u i s e l l i (2006) reviewed general dietary habits of 50 species from the family Testudinidae and 15 species from the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae. Of those, about 66% of terrestrial chelonians were exclusively herbivorous, 33% were omnivorous, and only one species (Terrapene carolina) was predominantly carnivorous. Herbivory in tortoises is not obligatory, as many species also feed on different food that 7 (1) • September 2016: 53-55 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.159104 BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1)  September 2016: 53-55 Nikolić, M. et al.  A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann's tortoise... 54 includes mushrooms, soil, sand, pebbles, and animal matter (M o s k o v i t s & B j o r n d a l , 1990; C e l s e et al., 2014). Testudo hermanni is a southern European species (B e r t o l e r o et al., 2011). Several studies about its diet, done in Croatia, Italy, France and Spain, revealed the total of 134 plant species (46 families) on the menu, where the most frequently used plants were from the families Asteraceae and Fabaceae, and a bit less used species were from the families Ranunculaceae and Poaceae (for more detailed list see in V e t t e r , 2006). According to data from Corsica, the Hermann's tortoise is almost exclusively vegetarian (97.4% plants in 997 feedings observed in the wild), and its highly diverse food spectrum includes at least 250 species (C e l s e et al., 2014). Although Hermann’s tortoises avoid ligneous, aromatic, resinous, milky or hairy plant species, it has been shown that they consume some plants that are toxic to other animal species, such as Tammus communis, Arum sp. and Ranunculus sp. (V e t t e r , 2006; B e r t o l e r o et al., 2011), perhaps to neutralize intestinal parasites (L o n g e p i e r r e & G r e n o t , 1999). In addition to various vascular plants, Hermann’s tortoises occasionally feed on mushrooms, colonies of cyanobacteria (Nostoc sp.), different species of invertebrates, and feces from various mammal species (human, dog, rabbit, goat, and pig) which seem to be appreciated for the hair and bone fragments or moisture that they contain, as well as on carrion (V e t t e r , 2006). Heterospecific coprophagy was also reported elsewhere (V e t t e r , 2006). The ingestion of soil and stones can be a common albeit rarely observed behavior of desert tortoises (i.e. Gopherus sp.). The deficiency of a mineral other than calcium or a ratio of minerals may be responsible for the ingestion of bones, stones, and soils by tortoises (E s q u e & P e t e r s , 1994). Also, it is known that Hermann’s tortoises occasionally ingest soil (geophagy) to acquire minerals (Đ o r đ e v i ć & G o l u b o v i ć , 2014). Here we report on the first observation of scavenging behaviour in the population of Testudo hermanni boettgeri that has been monitored for six years in the village Kunovica near the city of Niš, Serbia (43° 18’ 00’’ N; 22° 05’ 29’’ E). Feeding behavior was previously observed in 27 of 1398 records collected during the fieldwork from 2010 to 2015. In all those 27 cases tortoises were feeding on plants. However, on 31 May 2015, at 10:18 a.m., the adult tortoise was observed while eating the remains of a dead European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) (Fig. 1). Kunovica is a typical highland village area, situated at 621 m a.s.l., with the surface of 13.41 km2 and agricultural part covering about 4.44 km2. It is characterized by diverse vegetation and habitat composition, as about 58% of the land is covered with forests, 19% with fields and gardens, pastures constitute 6%, and there are also abandoned and active vineyards, and orchards (T u r n š e k , 2006). All these facts suggest optimal plant resources for local Hermann’s tortoises. Fig. 1. The adult Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) eating the remains of dead European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1)  September 2016: 53-55 Nikolić, M. et al.  A note on scavenging behaviour of adult Hermann's tortoise... 55 B u d ó et al. (2009) recorded scavenging behaviour in T. h. hermanni in Albera, (Catalonia, Spain) (one tortoise was observed while eating the remains of a dead bird). To our knowledge, this kind of feeding behaviour was reported in C e l s e et al. (2014) as sporadically detected in tortoise populations in Serbia, but no details were provided. On the basis of relations between habitat preferences and dietary habits in tortoises, their sporadical carnivorous diet is considered as relic (N a t c h e v et al., 2015, but see J a c k s o n et al., 1999). Therefore, further investigation about variation in its feeding habits is necessary for building more comprehensive knowledge on Hermann’s tortoise ecological requirements. Acknowledgements. This study was supported by Grant NO173025 Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia. 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