Stigmochelys

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Stigmochelys
Temporal range: Pliocene–recent
Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Stigmochelys
Gray, 1873
Species

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[edit]

  1. ^ Stigmochelys at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 February 2022.
  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" (PDF). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs. Vol. 5. IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. pp. 329–479. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v7.2014. ISBN 978-0965354097.