POST-EMERGENT FIELD ACTIVITY AND GROWTH-RATES OF HATCHLING SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISES, TESTUDO-GRAECA

Activity, mobility, growth rates, and space use of 48 hatchling spur-t highed tortoises, Testudo graeca, were monitored over st period of 8 m onths, from emergence from the nest in September until May. Individual s were followed by means of thread trailing and radio tracking. Overal l average distance moved was 4.42 m/day and average home-range size wa s 13.7 m(2). Hatchlings were active from emergence until mid-December, exhibited discontinuous hibernation until mid-February, and reached h ighest activity and mobility values in April-May. Overall, mobility va ried significantly with daily solar radiation values and maximum tempe rature, and was significantly dependent on body condition in winter. B ody size and mass had no influence on individual performance, and a si gnificant proportion of variance among individuals remained unexplaine d. Little growth occurred in autumn and body condition decreased stead ily, increasing only from February onwards. Growth rates increased in March-April. No individual differences in growth rates were detected, initial body size being the main determinant of body size after 8 mont hs.