Geochelone

Geochelone elegans

Geochelone is a genus of the family of tortoises ( Testudinidae ).

System

The genus formerly included up to 10 species. According to recent molecular genetic studies, however, the genre was clearly paraphyletic and thus not tenable in this composition. Today, only two types are combined in this genus, two of which are in South Asia and are common.

• Indian Star Tortoise ( Geochelone elegans ( Schoepff 1794) )
• Burma Tortoise (G. platynota ( Blyth 1863) )

The African spurred tortoise or turtle spores (G. sulcata (Miller, 1779) ) was one earlier in this genus. Today, we see her as the representative of the mono generic genus Centrochelys.

Species that were formerly placed in the genus Geochelone, are:

• Footed tortoise ( Chelonoidis carbonaria ( Spix 1824) )
• Argentine tortoise ( Chelonoidis chilensis (Gray, 1870) )
• Forest tortoise ( Chelonoidis denticulata (Linnaeus 1766 ) )
• Galapagos giant tortoise ( Chelonoidis nigra ( Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 ) )
• Leopard Tortoise ( pardalis Psammobates ( Bell 1828) )
• Radiated Tortoise ( Astrochelys radiata ( Shaw 1802) )
• Malagasy beak breast turtle ( Astrochelys yniphora Syn Angonoka yniphora ( Vaillant 1885) )

Description and life

Judging by the length of their carapace ( carapace ) they belong to the medium to large turtle species. Two species ( G. elegans and G. sulcata ) inhabit landscapes that are at least temporarily, very dry. About G. platynota little is known. They feed mainly on plants.

Special

The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans ) has a tank that particularly well approximates the shape of a Gömböc. This body has the property to turn over and over again in one and the same position back, no matter which starting position it is placed. Thus, this turtle very well turn back to the abdomen, without requiring the limbs to do so.