Author: Randi Jones

Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
  • Leopard Tortoise – The Fourth Largest Tortoise in the World

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Leopard tortoise Scientific name Stigmochelys pardalis Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Stigmochelys Conservation status Least Concern Type Reptile (large tortoise) Diet Plant eater: grasses, flowers and leafy greens Habitat Semi-dry grassland and thorny bush Native range Eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to South…

  • Indian Star Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Indian star tortoise Scientific name Geochelone elegans Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Geochelone Conservation status Vulnerable Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Leaves, grass, fallen fruit and flowers Habitat Dry areas and scrub forests Native range India, Sindh in Pakistan and Sri Lanka Size Up to…

  • Impressed Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Impressed tortoise Scientific name Manouria impressa Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Manouria Conservation status Endangered Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Bamboo shoots and mushrooms Habitat Mountain bamboo thickets and evergreen forests, up to 2,000 m Native range Southeast Asia, from Thailand and Malaysia to Vietnam…

  • 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…

  • Greek Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Greek tortoise Scientific name Testudo graeca Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Testudo Conservation status Vulnerable Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Sparse grasses and plants Habitat Hot, dry places from coastal dunes to rocky steppes Native range Southern Spain, Eastern Europe, North Africa, Middle East Size…

  • Hermann’s Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Hermann’s tortoise Scientific name Testudo hermanni Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Testudo Conservation status Vulnerable Type Reptile (small tortoise) Diet Weeds and greens such as dandelion, clover and mallow Habitat Rocky hill slopes, Mediterranean oak forests, dry land Native range Southern Europe, from Spain…

  • Gopher Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Gopher tortoise Scientific name Gopherus polyphemus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Gopherus Conservation status Critically Endangered Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Short grasses, legumes, and prickly pear flowers and fruit Habitat Sandy uplands, pastures, forests and yards Native range Southeastern United States, from Florida to…

  • Galapagos Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Galapagos tortoise Scientific name Chelonoidis niger Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Chelonoidis Conservation status Extinct Type Reptile (giant tortoise) Diet Cactus, leaves, grasses, vines and fruit Native range Galapagos Islands, about 1,000 km west of Ecuador Size Over 1.8 m (5.9 ft) long Weight…

  • Elongated Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Elongated tortoise Scientific name Indotestudo elongata Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Indotestudo Conservation status Critically Endangered Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Leafy greens, some fruit and mushrooms Habitat Humid teak forests Native range South and Southeast Asia, from northeast India to Malaysia Colours Caramel to…

  • Egyptian Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Egyptian tortoise Scientific name Testudo kleinmanni Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Testudo Conservation status Critically Endangered Type Reptile (tiny tortoise) Diet Green leaves, grasses and desert plants Habitat Dry sandy and gravelly deserts near the coast Native range Northern Egypt, Libya and Israel Size…

  • 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…

  • Desert Tortoise

    Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Desert tortoise Scientific name Gopherus agassizii Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Testudines Family Testudinidae Genus Gopherus Conservation status Critically Endangered Type Reptile (tortoise) Diet Plant eater: grasses, leafy plants and flowers Habitat Deserts with crumbly soil, often with creosote bushes Native range Southwestern United States, including California and…