“The Russian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii ), also commonly known as Horsfield’s tortoise or the Central Asian tortoise, is a species of tortoise and a popular pet.
Both the specific name, horsfieldii, and the common name, Horsfield’s tortoise, are in honor of the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield.
The Russian tortoise is a small tortoise species, with a size range of 13–25 cm (5–10 in). Females grow slightly larger (15–25 cm [6–10 in]) to accommodate more eggs. Males average 13–20 cm (5–8 in). They are herbivores and feed on weeds and wild flowers.
Russian tortoises are sexually dimorphic. Males tend to have longer tails generally tucked to the side; females have a short, fat tail. The male has a slit-shaped vent (cloaca) near the tip of its tail; the female has an asterisk-shaped vent (cloaca). Russian tortoises have four toes. Coloration varies, but the shell is usually a ruddy brown or black, fading to yellow between the scutes, and the body is straw-yellow and brown depending on the subspecies.”