Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: Don_1 on 01/09/2009 09:09:23

Title: Last survivor of Crimean War.
Post by: Don_1 on 01/09/2009 09:09:23

The last survivor of the Crimean War.

This is Timothy:
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F3%2F3a%2FTimothythetortoisePowderhamCastle.jpg%2F800px-TimothythetortoisePowderhamCastle.jpg&hash=86d1e45dae1a487b910f10a6b6deab5f)

Timothy, a female Mediterranean Spur Thigh Tortoise (Testudo graeca ibera) was taken from a Portuguese gallion in 1854 and served as mascot on a number of Royal Navy ships, including HMS Queen, during the bombardment of Sebastopol. She was retired from service in 1892 to live with the Earl of Devon. Timothy was buried near Powderham Castle, home of the Earl of Devon, when she died at the grand old age of 165* in 2004. She was the last survivor of the Crimean War.

Note the label attached to her shell by a piece of string through a hole drilled through it. Timothy also had the Earl's family moto etched into her Plastron (the underside of the shell). Etching, drilling, painting polishing and oiling of tortoise shells was common back in the bad old days. We now know the shell is living, feeling tissue, with pores, similar to ours, and should be treated as we would treat our skin. Oil, polish and paint clogs the pores.

*It is thought Timothy was hatched in 1839 and was mistakenly thought to be a male.

Title: Last survivor of Crimean War.
Post by: BenV on 01/09/2009 09:52:15

As a coincidence, my parents (well, originally my grandmother) have a tortoise called Timmy, who they only recently discovered to be a female.

We don't know how old she is, but do know that my gran had her since gran was very young, so timmy must be approaching 90~100 by now.

Title: Last survivor of Crimean War.
Post by: Don_1 on 02/09/2009 15:14:53

Sounds like a grand old lady, Ben. Do you know what species Timmy is?

Title: Last survivor of Crimean War.
Post by: BenV on 02/09/2009 15:32:57

Not sure - I've been told she's European though - to be honest my tortoise knowledge is not what it should be!