| Geochelone Temporal range: Miocene to present | |
|---|---|
) | |
| G. elegans | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Geochelone Fitzinger, 1835 |
| Species | |
| G. elegans | |
Geochelone is a genus of tortoises.
Geochelone tortoises, which are also known as typical tortoises or terrestrial turtles, can be found in southern Asia. They primarily eat plants.
Species
The genus consists of two extant species:
| Image | Common Name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
) | Indian star tortoise | Geochelone elegans | India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. |
) | Burmese star tortoise | Geochelone platynota | Myanmar |
A number of tortoise species have been recently removed from the genus. This taxon as formerly defined was "polyphyletic, representing at least five independent clades".[1] Tortoises removed include members of Aldabrachelys (from the Seychelles and Madagascar), Astrochelys[2] (Madagascar), Chelonoidis (South America and the Galápagos Islands), Stigmochelys[2] and Centrochelys (Africa), and the extinct Megalochelys (southern Asia).
Fossils
- † Geochelone burchardi Tenerife giant tortoise[3]
- † Geochelone vulcanica Gran Canaria giant tortoise[4]
- † Geochelone robusta Malta giant tortoise
"Self-righting" shell
The form of the shell of the Indian star tortoise resembles a gömböc, allowing it to turn over when lying upside down very easily.
References
- ^ Le, M.; Raxworthy, C. J.; McCord, W. P.; Mertz, L. (2006-05-05). "A molecular phylogeny of tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 40 (2): 517–531. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.003. PMID 16678445. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-16.
- ^ a b Fritz, U.; Bininda-Emonds, O. R. P. (2007-07-03). "When genes meet nomenclature: Tortoise phylogeny and the shifting generic concepts of Testudo and Geochelone". Zoology. Elsevier. 110 (4): 298–307. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2007.02.003. PMID 17611092.
- ^ "The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database cubit: The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database Extinct Reptiles: Geochelone burchardi". cubits.org. Archived from the original on 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database cubit: The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database Extinct Reptiles: Geochelone vulcanica". cubits.org. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- Geochelone Report in Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
External links
- Chaco tortoise media from ARKive
- Care tips
