Leopard Tortoise – The Fourth Largest Tortoise in the World

Leopard Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordate Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:        Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Stigmochelys Gray Species:     S. pardalis Binomial name:     Stigmochelys pardalis The Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys Pardalis) has attractive markings and is big in size; One can see them only in South Africa, the eastern region of … Read more

Largest (Giant) Tortoises

Largest Giant Tortoises

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:     Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Giant Tortoises are reptiles typical of some islands In the tropics. These tortoises often reach enormous proportions so far as size and weight are concerned. A giant tortoise can even weigh 300 Kilos or 660 lbs. They can also grow … Read more

Indian Star Tortoise

Indian Star Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:     Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Geochelone Species:     G. elegans Binomial name:     Geochelone elegans Indian star tortoises belong to the species of tortoise Geochelone elegans.  You can find this species in the dry areas and scrub forests of India as well … Read more

Impressed Tortoise

Impressed Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Manouria Species:     M. impressa Binomial name:     Manouria impressa The species impressed tortoise Manouria, biologically named Manouria impressa, is found in the mountain forest regions in the southeast of Asia in the country of Burma, including the southern part of China, … Read more

Pet Tortoise

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 … Read more

Hermann’s Tortoise

Hermann's Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:       Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo (disputed) Species:     T. hermanni Binomial name:     Testudo hermanni Dating back 200 million years, to the origin of reptiles,  the tortoise survived as a living fossil. The erstwhile population of these animals drastically diminished on account of … Read more

Greek Tortoise

Greek Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo Species:     T. graeca Binomial name:     Testudo graeca The Greek Tortoises have another name, Spur-thigh Tortoise.   These tortoises vary a lot in color and size.  Their care requirements also vary.   This diversity is due to the fact … Read more

Galapagos Tortoise

Galapagos Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines (=Chelonii) Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Chelonoidis Species:     C. nigra Binomial name:     Chelonoidis nigra The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise and the 13th-heaviest living reptile, reaching weights of over 400 kg (880 … Read more

Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superfamily:     Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Gopherus Species:     G. polyphemus Binomial name:     Gopherus polyphemus The gopher tortoise, Gopherus Polyphemus digs holes that act as a refuge for 360 other species of animals, as such, it is noted as a keystone species. … Read more

Egyptian Tortoise

Egyptian Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Testudo Species:     T. kleinmanni Binomial name:     Testudo kleinmanni Egyptian tortoise Testudo Kleinmanni or the Kleinmann’s tortoise, also known as Leith’s tortoise and is one of the critically endangered species on Earth.  The neck-hiding tortoises are decreasing more … Read more

Elongated Tortoise

Elongated Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Subphylum:     Vertebrata Class:       Reptilia Order:        Testudines Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Indotestudo Species:     I. elongata Binomial name:     Indotestudo elongata The Elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongate has a distinct and narrow carapace or upper shell that gives it this name. Anatomy The color of the carapace ranges from caramel to yellowish–dark … Read more

Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise

Scientific Classification Kingdom:   Animalia Phylum:     Chordata Class:       Sauropsida Order:        Testudines Suborder:        Cryptodira Superamily:    Testudinoidea Family:     Testudinidae Genus:     Gopherus Species:     G. agassizii Binomial name:     Gopherus agassizii The history of desert tortoises dates back several million years ago.  During this long period, they had to adapt to lots of changes in climatic and geological … Read more