Largest Giant Tortoises

Largest (Giant) Tortoises

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:     Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Giant Tortoises are reptiles typical of some islands In the tropics. These tortoises often reach enormous proportions so far as size and weight are concerned. A giant tortoise can even weigh 300 Kilos or 660 lbs. They can also grow…

Leopard Tortoise

Leopard Tortoise – The Fourth Largest Tortoise in the World

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordate Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:        Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Stigmochelys Gray Species:     S. pardalis Binomial name:     Stigmochelys pardalis The Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys Pardalis) has attractive markings and is big in size; One can see them only in South Africa, the eastern region of…

Indian Star Tortoise

Indian Star Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:     Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Geochelone Species:     G. elegans Binomial name:     Geochelone elegans Indian star tortoises belong to the species of tortoise Geochelone elegans.  You can find this species in the dry areas and scrub forests of India as well…

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,…

Pet Tortoise

Pet Tortoise

You might have seen many people keeping dogs and cats as their pets. What about keeping a pet tortoise? It will be a different experience, full of fun, keeping them as a pet. If you love to do things differently then try a tortoise as your pet this time. Tortoises do make interesting pets.  Their…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…