Encyclopedia
A knowledge base of articles organized by category. Search or browse to learn more.
Category: Testudinidae (Tortoises)
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
One of the largest tortoises in the world, with a high domed shell and thick, columnar legs.
Radiated Tortoise
Named for the striking star-like yellow lines radiating from the centre of each dark plate of its high-domed s…
Angonoka Tortoise (Ploughshare)
One of the rarest tortoises on Earth, with a golden-yellow domed shell and a distinctive 'ploughshare' (gular)…
African Spurred Tortoise (Sulcata)
The third-largest tortoise species and the largest mainland African tortoise, easily recognised by the large s…
Red-footed Tortoise
A medium-sized tortoise with dark, rectangular scutes and bright red, orange, or yellow markings on the head, …
Yellow-footed Tortoise
One of the largest mainland South American tortoises, distinguished from the red-footed tortoise by yellow (ra…
Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger (incl. C. elephantopus))
The largest living tortoise species, whose domed or saddle-backed shells and body size vary markedly between t…
Chaco Tortoise
A medium-small tortoise with a flatter, oval carapace that varies in colour from grey to brown.
Angulate Tortoise (Bowsprit Tortoise)
One of only a few tortoise species with a single, elongated 'bowsprit' gular scute projecting prominently from…
Indian Star Tortoise
Renowned for the beautiful star-shaped yellow or cream patterns radiating across each dark plate of its domed …
Burmese Star Tortoise
Very similar in appearance to the Indian star tortoise, with radiating star patterns on a slightly higher dome…
Mojave Desert Tortoise
A true desert specialist that spends up to 95% of its life underground in deep burrows to escape heat and drou…
Gopher Tortoise
A keystone 'ecosystem engineer' of the southeastern US, digging long burrows that provide shelter for over 350…
Texas Tortoise
The smallest North American tortoise, with a flattened, tan-to-grey shell.
Bolson Tortoise
The largest North American tortoise, with a large, domed shell and an unusually flattened top.
Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Formerly considered a subspecies of the desert tortoise, it is recognised as a distinct species occupying rock…
Speckled Padloper Tortoise
The world's smallest tortoise, with adults averaging only 6-8 cm in shell length and weighing under 200 g.
Elongated Tortoise
A medium-sized tortoise with an elongated, moderately domed shell that is yellow-tan to brown, and a receding …
Travancore Tortoise
A large, dark, highly domed forest tortoise restricted to the tropical forests of the southern Western Ghats.
Bell's Hinge-back Tortoise
Notable for the hinge across the rear of its carapace that allows the shell to flex downward to protect the hi…
Home's Hinge-back Tortoise
A forest-dwelling hinge-back tortoise whose long, flexible rear shell hinges down to protect the tail and legs…
Serrated Hinge-back Tortoise
The largest of the hinge-back tortoises, with a shell whose rear marginal scutes are upturned and serrated, an…
Pancake Tortoise
Extraordinary for its extremely flattened, flexible shell, made of thin bone with large gaps between the ribs,…
Asian Giant Tortoise (Burmese Brown Tortoise)
The largest mainland Asian tortoise, with a domed, dark brown shell that can exceed 50 cm.
