Central Asian tortoise

The steppe tortoise is a small, tough reptile that digs burrows to survive the extreme temperatures of Central Asia. It roams across dry grasslands from Iran to China, easily recognized by its four claws on each foot. This tortoise is threatened as farming and development shrink its natural habitat.

• It has four claws on each foot, unlike many tortoises which have five.
• This species digs deep burrows to escape summer heat and winter cold.
• Its range stretches from the Caspian Sea all the way to western China.