Tortoise

For the band, see Tortoise (band).

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox subordo entry Template:Taxobox superfamilia entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision Chersina
Dipsochelys
Furculachelys
Geochelone
Gopherus
Homopus
Indotestudo
Kinixys
Malacochersus
Manouria
Psammobates
Pyxis
Testudo Template:Taxobox end

Tortoise is the name given to the land-dwelling reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special shell. Turtles and terrapins are the aquatic species. All living tortoises are members of the order Testudines.

Tortoises have both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. All tortoises have a protective shell around their bodies. The top part of their case is called the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge.

The size of tortoises can vary from a few centimetres to up to two meters. Tortoises generally live a long time, some individuals being known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China. The oldest tortoise (or living animal) ever recorded is Tui Malila, of Tonga.

The giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands helped Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution, since the isolated populations on the different islands, although descended from a common ancestor, had diverged to different forms. One of Darwin's tortoises, named Harriet, is believed to still be alive and living in an Australian zoo.

Most land tortoises are herbivorous in the wild.

The first turtles already existed in the era of the dinosaurs, some 300 million years ago. Turtles and tortoises are the only surviving branch of the even more ancient clade Anapsida, which includes groups such as the procolophonoids, millerettids and pareiasaurs. Most of the anapsids became extinct in the late Permian period, with the exception of the procolophonoids and the precursors of the testudines (turtles and tortoises).

Chinese mythology

The tortoise represents longevity as it lives in real life for a very long time. It is one of the four most prominent beasts of China and is of the water element. In Feng Shui the rear of the home is represented by the symbolic animal the Black Tortoise, signifying support for home, family life and personal relationships. If you don’t have a building or structure representing the Black Tortoise behind your home you can place a symbolic tortoise there for enhanced support to this aspect of life. A tortoise at the back door or in the backyard by a pond is said to attract good fortune and many blessings.

The three tortoise stack one on top of each other represents a mother and her babies. it's good for health, protection and support for relationships.

Partial species list

• Genus Chersina
  • Bowsprit Tortoise, Chersina angulata
• Genus Dipsochelys
  • Dipsochelys abrupta Extinct
  • Arnold's Giant Tortoise, Dipsochelys arnoldi Extinct in the wild
  • Dipsochelys daudinii Extinct
  • Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Dipsochelys dussumieri Template:StatusVulnerable
  • Dipsochelys grandidieri Extinct
  • Seychelles Giant Tortoise, Dipsochelys hololissa Extinct in the wild
• Genus Furculachelys
  • Tunisian Spur-thigh Tortoise, Furculachelys nabeulensis
• Genus Geochelone
  • Red-Footed Tortoise, Geochelone carbonaria
  • Chaco Tortoise, Geochelone chilensis Template:StatusVulnerable
  • Yellow-Footed Tortoise, Geochelone denticulata Template:StatusVulnerable
  • Indian Star Tortoise, Geochelone elegans
  • Galápagos Giant Tortoise, Geochelone nigra Template:StatusVulnerable
  • Leopard Tortoise, Geochelone pardalis
  • Burmese Star Tortoise, Geochelone platynota Template:StatusCritical
  • Radiated Tortoise, Geochelone radiata Template:StatusVulnerable
  • African Spurred Tortoise (Sulcata Tortoise), Geochelone sulcata
  • Angulated Tortoise, Geochelone yniphora Template:StatusEndangered
• Genus Gopherus
  • Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii Vulnerable
  • Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri
  • Bolson Tortoise, Gopherus flavomarginatus Vulnerable
  • Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus Vulnerable
• Genus Homopus
  • Parrot-Beaked Cape Tortoise, Homopus aerolatus
  • Boulenger's Cape Tortoise, Homopus boulengeri
  • Karroo Cape Tortoise, Homopus femoralis
  • Speckled Cape Tortoise, Homopus signatus Template:StatusConcern
  • Berger's Cape Tortoise, Homopus bergeri Vulnerable
• Genus Indotestudo
  • Elongated Tortoise, Indotestudo elongata Template:StatusEndangered
  • Travancore Tortoise, Indotestudo forsteni Template:StatusEndangered
• Genus Kimixys
  • Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise, Kinixys belliana
  • Serrated Hinge-Backed Tortoise, Kinixys erosa Template:StatusData
  • Home's Hinge-Backed Tortoise, Kinixys homeana Template:StatusData
  • Natal Hinge-Backed Tortoise, Kinixys natalensis Template:StatusConcern
  • Kinixys spekii
• Genus Malacochersus
  • Pancake Tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri Vulnerable
• Genus Manouria
  • Brown Tortoise / Mountain Tortoise, Manouria emys Template:StatusEndangered
  • Impressed Tortoise, Manouria impressa Vulnerable
• Genus Psammobates
  • Geometric Tortoise, Psammobates geometricus Template:StatusEndangered
  • Serrated Star Tortoise, Psammobates oculiferus
  • African Tent Tortoise, Psammobates tentorius
• Genus Pyxis
  • Madagascan Spider Tortoise, Pyxis arachnoides Vulnerable
  • Madagascan Flat-Tailed Tortoise, Pyxis planicauda Endangered
• Genus Testudo
  • Greek Tortoise, Spur-Thighed Tortoise, Testudo graeca Vulnerable
  • Herman's Tortoise, Testudo hermanni Template:StatusConcern
  • Russian Tortoise, Horsfield's Tortoise, Testudo horsfieldii Vulnerable
  • Egyptian Tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni Template:StatusCritical
  • Negev Tortoise, Testudo werneri Template:StatusCritical
  • Marginated Tortoise, Testudo marginata

Gallery

• A baby Testudo marginata emerges from its shell
  A baby Testudo marginata emerges from its shell
• Testudo marginata
  Testudo marginata
•  
  Testudo horsfieldii
• Testudo graeca ibera,Testudo hermanni boettgeri,Testudo hermanni hermanni,Testudo marginata sarda
  Testudo graeca ibera,Testudo hermanni boettgeri,Testudo hermanni hermanni,Testudo marginata sarda
•  
  Testudo hermanni boettgeri
• A young (3.5 years) Sulcata Tortoise Geochelone sulcata
  A young (3.5 years) Sulcata Tortoise Geochelone sulcata
• Aldabra Giant Tortoise Dipsochelys dussumieri from Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles
  Aldabra Giant Tortoise Dipsochelys dussumieri from Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles
•  
  Testudo graeca ibera

Further Reading

• Chambers, Paul. A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise. John Murray (Publishers), London. 2004. ISBN 0719565286.

External links

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• Internationale Schildkröten Vereinigung
• Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society
• A Tortoise Fan Site