Geochelone
| Geochelone | |
|---|---|
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| Geochelone elegans | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Geochelone Fitzinger, 1835 |
| Species | |
Geochelone is a genus of tortoises.
Geochelone tortoises, which are also known as typical tortoises or terrestrial turtles, can be found in Africa and Asia. They primarily eat plants.
The genus consists of three extant species:
- Indian star tortoise (G. elegans)
- Burmese star tortoise (G. platynota)
- African spurred tortoise (G. sulcata)
A number of tortoise species have been recently removed from the genus. This taxon as fornerly defined was "polyphyletic, representing at least four 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] (Africa) and earlier, the extinct genus Colossochelys (southern Asia).
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[edit] "Self-righting" shell
The form of the shell of the Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) resembles a gömböc, allowing it to turn over when lying upside down very easily.
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40 (2): 517–531. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.003. PMID 16678445. http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Articles/Le_etal_2006.pdf.
- ^ 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.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia.
- Geochelone Report in Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Chaco tortoise media at ARKive
- Care tips
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