Biology:Stigmochelys

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Short description: Genus of turtles

Stigmochelys
Temporal range: Pliocene–recent
Leopard tortois.jpg
Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Stigmochelys
Gray, 1873
Species
  • Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1828)
  • Stigmochelys brachygularis Meylan and Auffenberg, 1987

Stigmochelys is a genus of tortoise endemic to Africa. Stigmochelys pardalis, the leopard tortoise, is the only extant species.[1] A fossil species, Stigmochelys brachygularis is known from the Pliocene of Tanzania.[2] Leopard tortoises were once placed in the genus Geochelone along with many other large tortoises.[3]

References

  1. Stigmochelys at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  2. Harrison, Terry (2011). Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context: Volume 2: Fossil Hominins and the Associated Fauna. Springer Netherlands. p. 479. ISBN 9789048199624. 
  3. Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (2014). "Turtles of the world, 7th edition: annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution with maps, and conservation status". Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. pp. 329–479. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v7.2014. ISBN 978-0965354097. http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v7_2014.pdf. 

Wikidata ☰ Q14566130 entry