Negev tortoise Negev tortoise The Negev tortoise ("Testudo werneri") is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to the Negev Desert in southern Israel. "T. werneri" has been considered to be a subspecies or synonym of Kleinmann's tortoise ("T. kleinmanni" ). Males of "T. werneri" may reach a straight carapace length of . Females grow to be larger, attaining a straight carapace length of (Perälä 2001). "T. werneri" was once found in the Sinai Peninsula but has gone regionally extinct due to loss of habitat. In Israel it is protected by law and several conservation programs, and
Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev of perched above the plains in the western part of the Ramon-Nafkha highlands. It is surrounded by a wall built of lime stone, and housed within it are the remnants of a Nabatean temple, a fort, a main street, two churches and a caravanserai. Also visible are short walls and arched roofs. The Haluza town is in the northern extremity of the nominated site and is a desert with sand dunes which has buried most of the town. Recent excavations have unearthed remnants of two churches, a tower, a wine press, a theater, and a road. The Mamshit town is