Geochelone

Taxobox |

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Geochelone radiata"
name = "Geochelone"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Cryptodira
familia = Testudinidae
genus = "Geochelone"
genus_authority = Fitzinger, 1835
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="G. carbonaria"
"G. chilensis"
"G. denticulata"
"G. elegans"
"G. gigantea"
"G. nigra"
"G. pardalis"
"G. platynota"
"G. radiata"
"G. sulcata"
"G. yniphora"

"Geochelone" is a genus of tortoises.

Geochelone Tortoises, which are also known as "geoclelone tortoises" or "typical tortoises", can be found in Africa, America, Asia, and several Oceanic islands. They primarily eat plants, specifically dark greens. Measured by the length of their shell, the species in this genus are some of the largest turtles in the world, especially the Galápagos tortoise ("G. nigra"), which can get as long as 6 feet (1.80 meters). The genus consists of the following 12 species:
*Red-footed tortoise ("G. carbonaria")
*Chaco tortoise ("G. chilensis")
*South American yellow-footed tortoise ("G. denticulata")
*Indian Star Tortoise ("G. elegans")
*Aldabra Giant Tortoise ("G. gigantea")
*Galápagos tortoise ("G. nigra")
*Leopard Tortoise ("G. pardalis")
*Burmese Star Tortoise ("G. platynota")
*Radiated Tortoise ("G. radiata")
*African Spurred Tortoise ("G. sulcata")
*Angonoka or Angulated Tortoise ("G. yniphora")

A recent comparative genetic analysis has indicated that this taxon is "polyphyletic, representing at least four independent clades".cite journal
last = Le
first = M.
authorlink =
coauthors = Raxworthy, C. J.; McCord, W. P.; Mertz, L.
title = A molecular phylogeny of tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae} based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes
journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
volume = 40
issue =
pages = 517-531
publisher =
location =
date = 2006-05-05
url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WNH-4JWFGYC-1&_user=4430&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000059594&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4430&md5=17737ababb8f6b572a3a44a520001dc6
doi = 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.003
id =
accessdate = ] South American members of "Geochelone" are actually most closely related to African hingeback tortoises.

"Self-righting" shell

The form of the shell of the Indian Star Tortoise ("Geochelone elegans") resembles a gömböc, allowing it to turn over when lying upside down very easily.

References

*de
*" [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=173853 Geochelone Report] " in Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved January 12, 2008.

External links

*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Geochelone_chilensis/ images and movies of the Chaco tortoise "(Geochelone chilensis)"] [http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/sulcatacare.html]