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Abbreviation Legend

  • (CE) - Criticially Endangered
  • (CI) - Critically Imperiled
  • (E) - Endangered
  • (I) - Introduced
  • (IM) - Imperiled
  • (NT) - Near Threatened
  • (T) - Threatened
  • (V) - Vulnerable
  • (**) - Recent Classification Change
Home »» Turtles & Tortoises »» Testuninidae (Tortoises)

Tortoises of the United States


Tortoises are strictly terrestrial. Their hind feet are stumpy and elephantine, the front limbs bear thick hard scales, and all lack webbing. Ther shell is often done shaped, and the thick carapace and plastron are united by a well developed bridge. The male's plastron is concave.

The only native tortoises are the Genus Gopherus, commonly called Gopher tortoises or Desert Tortoises. These have flattened front limbs and are accomplished burrowers. All are herbivorous. Females may nest 2 or 3 times a season.

 

There are 13 species of Tortoises in the United States, 8 of which are Introduced species.

(I) (E)

African Spurred Tortoise
(Centrochelys sulcata)
(I) (T)

Red-Footed Tortoise
(Chelonoidis carbonarius)
(I) (V)

Brazilian Giant Tortoise
(Chelonoidis denticulatus)
(CE)

Mojave Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii)

Berlandier's (Texas) Tortoise
(Gopherus berlandieri)
(CE)

Bolson Tortoise
(Gopherus flavomarginatus)

Sonoran Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus morafkai)
(V)

Gopher Tortoise
(Gopherus polyphemus)
(CE) (I)

Elongated Tortoise
(Indotestudo elongata)
(I)

Leopard Tortoise
(Stigmochelys pardalis)
(I) (V)

Greek Tortoise
(Testudo graeca)
(I) (NT)

Hermann's Tortoise
(Testudo hermanni)
(I) (V)

Afghan Tortoise
(Testudo horsfieldii)

 

 

 

 

Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Turtles of North America: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Turtles of the Continental United States and Canada     Turtles of the United States and Canada     Common Box Turtles     Complete North American Box Turtle



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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