Vikki one idea is that those tortoises all formed their shape in the natural environment because they were adults when they were collected. This would suggest that their smooth growth has nothing to do with the conditions they have expereinced here in the UK.
Under natural conditions, those species which 'ought' to have smooth shells usually grow in that way, but not always. 'Lumpy' tortoises have also been found in the wild.
I don't think there is any real adaptation with tortoises that were brought to the UK. I've changed my mind totally about that and I don't think any adaptation happens . Some of those 'garden tortoises' survived because they were tough and resilient creatures who had spent long periods of time developing normally in their countries of origin. They made the best of the conditions they were given and for some of them life continued.
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Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises
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