Geochelone
| Geochelone | |
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| Geochelone elegans | |
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Geochelone
Fitzinger, 1835
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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 formerly 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).
"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
- Geochelone Report in Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
External links
- Chaco tortoise media at ARKive
- Care tips
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Tortoise family of turtles (Testudinidae)
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Species of the tortoise family
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| Aldabrachelys | ||
| Astrochelys | ||
| Chelonoidis | ||
| Chersina | ||
| Centrochelys | ||
| Cylindraspis† | ||
| Geochelone | ||
| Gopherus | ||
| Homopus | ||
| Indotestudo | ||
| Kinixys | ||
| Malacochersus | ||
| Manouria | ||
| Psammobates | ||
| Pyxis | ||
| Stigmochelys | ||
| Testudo | ||
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Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Key: †=extinct.
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Extant turtle taxonomy
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| Cryptodira |
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| Pleurodira |
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