Testudo horsfieldii Gray, 1844

Figs 3, 5A, B

Takhar records.

Bay Yawa (Khagebilendi), 37.4058°N, 69.6853°E, 1124 m a.s.l., 2, 4, 12, 21 and 22 April 2020, grassy habitat, tens of individuals from juveniles to adults of both sexes (CUHC-PA 179); Taleqan (Takhar University Campus), 36.7405°N, 69.4803°E, 792 m a.s.l., 5 May 2020, grassy habitat, tens of individuals from juveniles to adults of both sexes (CUHC-PA 178); Taleqan (Khitayan), 36.6638°N, 69.6580°E, 980 m a.s.l., 13 May 2020; grassy habitat, tens of individuals from juveniles to adults of both sexes (CUHC-PA 181); Tangi Farkhar, 36.6353°N, 69.7264°E, 1039 m a.s.l., 13 May 2020, grassy habitat, tens of individuals from juveniles to adults of both sexes (CUHC-PA 182); Taleqan (Pusthhur), 36.7492°N, 69.5869°E, 814 m a.s.l., 18 May 2020, grassy habitat, tens of individuals from juveniles to adults of both sexes (CUHC-PA 180).

Distribution in Afghanistan.

Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Farah, Ghazni, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kunduz, Nimroz, Paktika and Zabul Provinces (Wagner et al. 2016; Jablonski et al. 2019b, 2021e), representing 35% of all provinces.

Chorotype.

Turanian.

Remarks.

We provide the first record of T. horsfieldii for Takhar Province. These are currently the easternmost records of the species in Afghanistan. The geographically closest records are from Kunduz Province, ca. 30 km by air distance westwards (Jablonski et al. 2021e).