Impressed Tortoise

Impressed Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Manouria Species:     M. impressa Binomial name:     Manouria impressa The species impressed tortoise Manouria, biologically named Manouria impressa, is found in the mountain forest regions in the southeast of Asia in the country of Burma, including the southern part of China,…

Greek Tortoise

Greek Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo Species:     T. graeca Binomial name:     Testudo graeca The Greek Tortoises have another name, Spur-thigh Tortoise.   These tortoises vary a lot in color and size.  Their care requirements also vary.   This diversity is due to the fact…

Hermann's Tortoise

Hermann’s Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:       Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo (disputed) Species:     T. hermanni Binomial name:     Testudo hermanni Dating back 200 million years, to the origin of reptiles,  the tortoise survived as a living fossil. The erstwhile population of these animals drastically diminished on account of…

Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:     Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Gopherus Species:     G. polyphemus Binomial name:     Gopherus polyphemus The gopher tortoise, Gopherus Polyphemus digs holes that act as a refuge for 360 other species of animals, as such, it is noted as a keystone species….

Galapagos Tortoise

Galapagos Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines (=Chelonii) Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Chelonoidis Species:     C. nigra Binomial name:     Chelonoidis nigra The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise and the 13th-heaviest living reptile, reaching weights of over 400 kg (880…

Elongated Tortoise

Elongated Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Subphylum:     Vertebrata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Indotestudo Species:     I. elongata Binomial name:     Indotestudo elongata The Elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongate has a distinct and narrow carapace or upper shell that gives it this name. Anatomy The color of the carapace ranges from caramel to yellowish–dark…

Egyptian Tortoise

Egyptian Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo Species:     T. kleinmanni Binomial name:     Testudo kleinmanni Egyptian tortoise Testudo Kleinmanni or the Kleinmann’s tortoise, also known as Leith’s tortoise and is one of the critically endangered species on Earth.  The neck-hiding tortoises are decreasing more…

Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superamily:    Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Gopherus Species:     G. agassizii Binomial name:     Gopherus agassizii The history of desert tortoises dates back several million years ago.  During this long period, they had to adapt to lots of changes in climatic and geological…

Turtle and a Tortoise

Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise

In biological terms, you often see that the words, ‘Tortoise,’ ‘Turtle,’ and ‘Terrapin’ are used one after another. Their habitat plays an important role in their classification. Without a doubt, they all belong to the common order of Chelonia, which has 244 species in it. The Americans consider turtles as aquatic or semi-aquatic Chelonians. Australians…

Chaco Tortoise

Chaco Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Subclass:       Anapsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Chelonoidis Species:     C. petersi Binomial name:     Chelonoidis chilensis Chaco Tortoises or the tortoise Chelonoidis Chilensis belong to the family Testudinidae.  The tortoise derives its name from the Chaco regions in Argentina and Paraguay, which…

Burmese Star Tortoise

Burmese Star Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Geochelone Species:     G. platynota Binomial name:     Geochelone platynota The Burmese Star tortoise Geochelone Platynota is a large tortoise.  These are critically endangered species. They are inhabitants of the deciduous dry forests of Myanmar.  The Burmese star tortoise is…

Boulenger's Cape Tortoise

Boulenger’s Cape Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Homopus Species:     H. boulengeri Binomial name:     Homopus boulengeri Boulenger’s cape tortoise Homopus Boulengeri, now renamed as Karoo Padloper,  is also called Doonner-wee tortoise or Boulenger’s Padloper. This tortoise belongs to the genus of Homopus and is widespread in the province…