Added September 14 2003. Last updated April 11 2014: extensively revised genus listing.
These are the familiar and much-loved land tortoises. They are adapted for life on land, having strong limbs with claws, thick shells (apart from the Pancake Tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri) and long necks. Most are found in savannah or mediterranean-type zones where their coloration (usually some shade of yellow or brown) helps camouflage them. Although most live in the tropics of Africa, Asia and the Americas, a few species dwell in the warmer parts of Europe and hibernate in winter: Horsfield's Tortoise (aka the Russian Tortoise), Testudo [Agrionomys] horsfieldi, lives on the steppes of eastern Europe and Central Asia where climate alternates between broiling summers and extremely harsh winters.
In general, members of this family are characterised as follows:
heavily ossified and markedly convex shells
plastron rarely jointed
toes shortened and fused into a stumpy foot with only the claws protruding
primarily herbivorous
Most of the species are found in sub-Saharan Africa, with a few in every other non-polar continent except Australia.
For a long time, Testudo species were the traditional mainstay of the tortoise pet trade, at least in Europe. However, callous practices in exporting the tortoises - which often led to the death of most of the exported animals - led to the banning of this trade. This was understandable but unfortunate, because there is evidence that this did not help the wild populations in their native habitat at all. Instead, lacking any economic value, they have been regarded as a nuisance and killed in barbaric ways [Alderton], notably in Greece. The trade in wild animals should of course be subject to welfare regulation, but the fate of non-traded Testudo should give any lawgivers pause for thought before rushing in to legislate further.
South African tortoises are regarded by Walls as difficult if not impossible to keep outside of their native environment. This may be an exaggeration, but they are certainly not to be kept lightly and should be considered difficult. The point may be moot in any case, since the export of animals from South Africa is currently banned. Gopher Tortoises also need absolute dryness and are threatened in the wild so should not be regarded as potential pets. Kinixys also have a reputation for being difficult.
Classification of the family has, like much in zoology, fluctuated over the past few years. This new listing (April 2014) represents the state of understanding as at 2014 according to the Reptile Database.
|
Genus |
Common Name |
No. of species |
Location |
Notes |
|
Aldabrachelys |
Aldabra and Seychelles Giant Tortoises |
3 |
Aldabra and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean |
Previously variously described as Geochelone or Dipsochelys species until recently. |
|
Astrochelys |
Malagasy Tortoises |
2 |
Madagascar |
Formerly considered members of Geochelone. |
|
Chelonoidis |
Galapagos Tortoises, Yellow- and Red-Footed Tortoises |
13 |
South America, including Galapagos Islands |
Formerly just included the smaller mainland species. |
|
Chersina |
Bowsprit Tortoise |
1 |
South Africa |
|
|
Geochelone |
Star Tortoise, Burmese Star Tortoise, Leopard and Spurred Tortoises |
3 |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
No longer includes giant tortoises outside of mainland Africa. |
|
Gopherus |
Gopher Tortoises |
4 |
North America (USA and Mexico) |
Protected: need absolutely dry environment. |
|
South African Tortoises |
4 |
South Africa |
Very small species: difficult to maintain in captivity outside natural environment. |
|
|
Indotestudo |
Elongated, Celebes/Forsten's and Travancore Tortoises |
3 |
India and Indonesia |
|
|
Kinixys |
Hinge-Backed Tortoises |
8 |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
Reputation as not easy to keep. South African species are protected. |
|
Malacochercus |
Pancake Tortoise |
1 |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
Rarely seen nowadays due to legal protection - unique because of flexible shell. |
|
Manouria |
Brown and Impressed Tortoises |
2 |
India, China, SE Asia and Indonesia |
|
|
Psammobates |
Geometric, Serrated and Tent Tortoises |
5 |
South Africa |
Small tortoises, difficult to maintain in captivity outside natural environment. |
|
Pyxis |
Malagasy Tortoises |
2 |
Madagascar |
Smallest tortoises in the world. |
|
Stigmochelys |
Leopard Tortoise |
1 |
Eastern and southern Africa |
Formerly assigned to Geochelone. |
|
Mediterranean and Russian/Horsfield's Tortoises |
5 |
Mediterranean basin, Balkans, E Europe and C Asia |
Popular and reasonably hardy captives (but NOT T. kleinmanni). Captive bred are usually available at a price. |
Turtles and Tortoises of the World, David Alderton, Blandford, London 1999.
Schildkröten, Gerhard Müller, Eugen Ullmer, Stuttgart 1995.
Tortoises: Natural History, Care and Breeding in Captivity, Jerry G Walls, TFH
Tortoise Trust
World Chelonian Organisation
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