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tortoises are the shit |
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{{Expert-portal|Tree of Life}} |
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{{otheruses}} |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Tortoises |
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| image = tortoise.aldabra.750pix.jpg |
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| image_width = 250px |
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| image_caption = [[Aldabra Giant Tortoise]]<br>(''Geochelone gigantea'')<br>from [[Aldabra]] atoll in the [[Seychelles]]. |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] |
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| ordo = [[Testudines]] |
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| subordo = [[Cryptodira]] |
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| superfamilia = [[Testudinoidea]] |
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| familia = '''Testudinidae''' |
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| subdivision_ranks = Genera |
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| subdivision = |
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''[[Chersina]]''<br> |
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''[[Cylindraspis]] (extinct)''<br> |
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''[[Dipsochelys]]''<br> |
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''[[Geochelone]]''<br> |
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''[[Gopherus]]''<br> |
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''[[Homopus]]''<br> |
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''[[Indotestudo]]''<br> |
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''[[Kinixys]]''<br> |
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''[[Malacochersus]]''<br> |
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''[[Manouria]]''<br> |
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''[[Psammobates]]''<br> |
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''[[Pyxis (genus)|Pyxis]]''<br> |
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''[[Stylemys]] (extinct)<br> |
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''[[Testudo (genus)|Testudo]]'' |
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}} |
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'''Tortoises''' or '''land [[turtles]]''' are land-dwelling [[reptiles]] of the family of [[Testudinidae]], order [[Turtle|Testudines]]. Like their marine cousins, the [[sea turtle]]s, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the [[carapace]], the underside is the [[plastron]], and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise has both an [[endoskeleton]] and an [[exoskeleton]]. Tortoises can vary in size from a few centimeters to two meters. Tortoises tend to be [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]] animals with tendencies to be [[crepuscular]] depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals. The biggest operational difference between tortoises and turtles is that tortoises are unable to swim; indeed, they cannot float, whereas turtles can. |
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==Etymology== |
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{{:Differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins}} |
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==Biology== |
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===Birth=== |
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Female tortoises dig burrows in which they lay from two to twelve eggs. [[Hatchling]]s take approximately 90-120 days to incubate within the ping-pong-ball sized eggs. Upon completion of the incubation period the hatchlings break open the egg shell enclosure with their beak and dig their way to the surface. Most hatchlings are born with an embryonic egg sac which serves as a source of food until they are capable of eating solid foods, this stage lasts between 3 and 7 days. Like turtles, Mother tortoises will lay their eggs usually during the night then leave. It is up to the hatchlings to survive on their own. They are also born with their shell on. |
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===Lifespan=== |
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There are many [[old wives tale| old wives tales]] about the age of turtles and tortoises, one of which being that the age of a tortoise can be deducted by counting the number of concentric rings on its carapace, much like the cross-section of a [[tree]]. This is, of course, not true, since the growth of a tortoise depends highly on the access of food and water. A tortoise that has access to plenty of forage (or is regularly fed by its owner) will grow faster than a desert tortoise that goes days without eating. |
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Tortoises generally have lifespans comparable with those of human beings, and some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as [[China]]. The oldest tortoise ever recorded, almost the oldest individual animal ever recorded, was [[Tui Malila]], who was presented to the Tongan royal family by the British explorer Captain Cook shortly after its birth in 1777. Tui Malila remained in the care of the Tongan royal family until its death by natural causes on [[May 19]], 1965. This means that upon its death, Tui Malila was 188 years old.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200831,00.html FOXNews.com - Tortoise Believed to Have Been Owned by Darwin Dies at 176 - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The record for the longest-lived vertebrate is succeeded only by one other, a [[koi fish]] named [[Hanako (Koi Fish)|Hanako]] whose death on [[July 17]] [[1977]] ended a 226 year life span.<ref>[http://www.arborman.com/koioldest.htm Hanako]</ref> |
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The [[Alipore Zoological Gardens|Alipore Zoo]] in [[India]] was the home to [[Adwaitya]], which zoo officials claimed was the oldest living animal until its death on [[March 23]], [[2006]]. Adwaitya (sometimes spelled with two d's) was an [[Aldabra Giant Tortoise]] brought to India by Lord Wellesley who handed it over to the Alipur Zoological Gardens in 1875 when the zoo was set up. Zoo officials state they have documentation showing that Adwaitya was at least 130 years old, but claim that he was over 250 years old (although this has ''not'' been scientifically verified). [[Adwaitya]] was said to be the pet of [[Robert Clive]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060323/india_nm/india241890]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref> [[Harriet]], a resident at the [[Australia Zoo]] in Queensland, was apocryphally thought to have been brought to England by Charles Darwin aboard the [[HMS Beagle|Beagle]]. Harriet died on [[June 23]], [[2006]], just shy of her 176th birthday. |
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===Sexual dimorphism=== |
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Many, though not all, species of tortoises are [[sexual dimorphism| sexually dimorphic]], though the differences between males and females vary from species to species. In some species, males have a longer, more protruding neck plate than their female counterparts, while in others the claws are longer on the females. |
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In most tortoise species the female tends to be larger than the male. (Some believe that males grow quicker, while the female grows slower but larger.) The male also has a [[plastron]] that is curved inwards to aid reproduction. The easiest way to determine the sex of a tortoise is to look at the tail. The females, as a general rule have a smaller tail which is dropped down whereas the males have a much longer tail which is usually pulled up and to the side of the rear shell. |
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==Diet== |
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[[Image:Feeding Tortoise.jpg|thumb|right|A baby tortoise feeding on lettuce.]] |
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Most land based tortoises are [[herbivores]], feeding on grazing grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and certain fruits. Their main diet consists of [[alfalfa]], [[clover]], [[dandelions]], and leafy weeds, although they will also eat various [[insects]]. Feeding tortoises cat or dog food is a common mistake, as both cat and dog food contain too much protein and lack other important nutrients for tortoises. Tortoises are not carnivores, and should not be fed large amounts of protein, as it may cause shell deformation and other medical problems. |
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Many people make the mistake of assuming that all captive tortoises can be fed on the same diet. In reality, tortoise species vary greatly in their nutritional requirements. There is no "one fits all" diet. What works for one species won't always work for another. Commercial pellets are definitely to be avoided for all species, as they contain too much protein, this will lead to shell deformities. |
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==Taxonomy== |
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The following species list largely follows Ernst & Barbour (1989), as indicated by The Reptile Database. However, the newly erected genera ''[[Astrochelys]]'', ''[[Chelonoidis]]'' and ''[[Stigmochelys]]'' have been retained within ''[[Geochelone]]''. |
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[[Image:SmithTestudoSkeleton.jpg|400px|thumb|Skeleton of a tortoise]] |
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*'''''[[Chersina]]''''' |
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**''[[Bowsprit Tortoise|Chersina angulata]]'', Bowsprit Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Cylindraspis]]''''' (All species Extinct) |
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**''[[Cylindraspis indica]]'', synonym ''[[Cylindraspis borbonica]]'' |
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**''[[Cylindraspis inepta]]'' |
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**''[[Cylindraspis peltastes]]'' |
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**''[[Cylindraspis triserrata]]'' |
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**''[[Cylindraspis vosmaeri]]'' |
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*'''''[[Dipsochelys]]''''' |
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**''[[Dipsochelys abrupta]]'' (Extinct) |
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**''[[Arnold's Giant Tortoise|Dipsochelys arnoldi]]'', Arnold's Giant Tortoise, |
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**''[[Dipsochelys daudinii]]'' (Extinct) |
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**''[[Aldabra Giant Tortoise|Dipsochelys dussumieri]]'', Aldabra Giant Tortoise, common synonyms ''[[Aldabra Giant Tortoise|Geochelone gigantea]]'', ''[[Aldabra Giant Tortoise|Aldabrachelys gigantea]]'' |
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**''[[Dipsochelys grandidieri]]'' (Extinct) |
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**''[[Seychelles giant tortoise|Dipsochelys hololissa]]'', Seychelles giant tortoise |
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*'''''[[Geochelone]]''''' |
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**''[[Red-Footed Tortoise|Geochelone carbonaria]]'', Red-Footed Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Chelonoidis]]'' |
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**''[[Chaco Tortoise|Geochelone chilensis]]'', Chaco or Chilean Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Chelonoidis]]'' |
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**''[[Yellow-Footed Tortoise|Geochelone denticulata]]'', Yellow-Footed Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Chelonoidis]]'' |
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**''[[Indian Star Tortoise|Geochelone elegans]]'', Indian Star Tortoise |
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**''[[Galápagos tortoise|Geochelone nigra]]'', Galápagos Giant Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Chelonoidis]]'' |
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**''[[Leopard Tortoise|Geochelone pardalis]]'', Leopard Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Stigmochelys]]'' or in ''[[Psammobates]]'' |
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**''[[Burmese Star Tortoise|Geochelone platynota]]'', Burmese Star Tortoise |
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**''[[Radiated Tortoise|Geochelone radiata]]'', Radiated Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Astrochelys]]'' |
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**''[[African Spurred Tortoise|Geochelone sulcata]]'', African Spurred Tortoise (Sulcata Tortoise) |
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**''[[Geochelone yniphora]]'', Angulated Tortoise, Madagascan (Plowshare) Tortoise; sometimes placed in distinct genus ''[[Astrochelys]]'' |
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*'''''[[Gopherus]]''''' |
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**''[[Desert Tortoise|Gopherus agassizii]]'', Desert Tortoise |
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**''[[Texas Tortoise|Gopherus berlandieri]]'', Texas Tortoise |
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**''[[Bolson Tortoise|Gopherus flavomarginatus]]'', Bolson Tortoise |
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**''[[Gopher tortoise|Gopherus polyphemus]]'', Gopher Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Homopus]]''''' |
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**''[[Parrot-Beaked Cape Tortoise|Homopus aerolatus]]'', Parrot-Beaked Cape Tortoise |
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**''[[Boulenger's Cape Tortoise|Homopus boulengeri]]'', Boulenger's Cape Tortoise |
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**''[[Karroo Cape Tortoise|Homopus femoralis]]'', Karroo Cape Tortoise |
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**''[[Speckled Cape Tortoise|Homopus signatus]]'', Speckled Cape Tortoise, Speckled Padloper |
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**''[[Berger's Cape Tortoise|Homopus bergeri]]'', Berger's Cape Tortoise, Nama padloper, synonym ''[[Berger's Cape Tortoise|Homopus solus]]'' |
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*'''''[[Indotestudo]]''''' |
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**''[[Elongated Tortoise|Indotestudo elongata]]'', Elongated Tortoise |
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**''[[Travancore Tortoise|Indotestudo forstenii]]'', Travancore Tortoise, Forsten’s Tortoise |
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**''[[Travancore Tortoise|Indotestudo travancorica]]'', Travancore Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Kinixys]]''''' |
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**''[[Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise|Kinixys belliana]]'', Bell's Hinge-Backed Tortoise |
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**''[[Common Tortoise|Kinixys erosa]]'', Serrated Hinge-Backed Tortoise |
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**''[[Home's Hinge-back Tortoise|Kinixys homeana]]'', Home's Hinge-Backed Tortoise |
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**''[[Lobatse Hingeback Tortoise|Kinixys lobatsiana]]'', Lobatse Hingeback Tortoise |
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**''[[Natal Hinge-back Tortoise|Kinixys natalensis]]'', Natal Hinge-Backed Tortoise |
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**''[[Kinixys spekii]]'', Speke's Hingeback Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Malacochersus]]''''' |
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**''[[Pancake Tortoise|Malacochersus tornieri]]'', Pancake Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Manouria]]''''' |
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**''[[Brown Tortoise|Manouria emys]]'', Brown Tortoise (Mountain Tortoise) |
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**''[[Impressed Tortoise|Manouria impressa]]'', Impressed Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Psammobates]]''''' |
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**''[[Geometric Tortoise|Psammobates geometricus]]'', Geometric Tortoise |
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**''[[Serrated Star Tortoise|Psammobates oculifer]]'', Serrated Star Tortoise |
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**''[[African Tent Tortoise|Psammobates tentorius]]'', African Tent Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Pyxis (genus)|Pyxis]]''''' |
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**''[[Madagascan Spider Tortoise|Pyxis arachnoides]]'', Madagascan Spider Tortoise |
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**''[[Madagascan Flat-Tailed Tortoise|Pyxis planicauda]]'', Madagascan Flat-Tailed Tortoise |
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*'''''[[Stylemys]]''''' (all species extinct) |
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**''[[Stylemys amphithorax]]'' |
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**''[[Stylemys capax]]'' |
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**''[[Stylemys conspecta]] |
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**''[[Stylemys nebrascensis]]'' |
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*'''''[[Testudo (genus)|Testudo]]''''' |
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**''[[Testudo atlas]]'', Atlas tortoise, Colossochelys (Extinct) |
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**''[[Greek Tortoise|Testudo graeca]]'', Greek Tortoise (Spur-Thighed Tortoise) |
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**''[[Herman's Tortoise|Testudo hermanni]]'', Herman's Tortoise |
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**''[[Russian Tortoise|Testudo horsfieldii]]'', Russian Tortoise (Horsfield's Tortoise, or Central Asian Tortoise) |
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**''[[Egyptian Tortoise|Testudo kleinmanni]]'', Egyptian Tortoise, incl. Negev Tortoise |
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**''[[Marginated Tortoise|Testudo marginata]]'', Marginated Tortoise |
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**''[[Tunisian Spur-thigh Tortoise|Testudo nabeulensis]]'', Tunisian Spur-thigh Tortoise |
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==Tortoises in religion== |
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[[Image:Awatoceanofmilk01.JPG|thumb|200px|The bas-relief from [[Angkor Wat]], Cambodia, shows [[Samudra manthan]]-Vishnu in the centre, his turtle [[avatar]] [[Kurma]] below, [[asura]]s and [[deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s to left and right.]] |
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In [[Hinduism]], '''Kurma''' ([[Sanskrit]]: कुर्म) was the second [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Like the [[Matsya]] [[Avatara]] also belongs to the [[Satya yuga]]. Vishnu took the form of a half-man half-[[tortoise]], the lower half being a tortoise. He is normally shown as having four arms. He sat on the bottom of the [[ocean]] after the [[Deluge (mythology)|Great Flood]]. A [[mountain]] was placed on his back by the other [[deity|gods]] so that they could churn the sea and find the ancient treasures of the [[Vedic civilization|Vedic]] peoples. |
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==Tortoises as pets== |
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Many tortoises have specific temperature, roaming space, light, air moisture, and diet requirements. They are difficult to breed in captivity, so many are caught in the wild. Tortoises need outdoor space to roam. It is not possible to house-train a tortoise. |
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==Tortoises in popular culture== |
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::''See main article [[Cultural depictions of turtles and tortoises]]'' |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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* Chambers, Paul. 2004. ''A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise''. John Murray (Publishers), London. ISBN 0-7195-6528-6. |
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* Ernst,C.H. & Barbour,R.W. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. - London. |
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* Gerlach, Justin. 2004. Giant Tortoises of the Indian Ocean. Chimiara publishers, Frankfurt. |
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* Kuyl, Antoinette C. van der et al.2002. Phylogenetic Relationships among the Species of the Genus Testudo (Testudines: Testudinidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial 12S rRNA Gene Sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 22: 174-183. |
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==External links== |
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{{commons|Testudinidae}} |
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{{wikispecies|Testudinidae}} |
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* [http://www.reptile-database.org The Reptile Database] |
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* [http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/families/Testudinidae.html Family Testudinidae (Tortoises) of The Reptile Database] |
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* [http://www.reptilesweb.com/reptiles-section/tortoise-world.html Tortoise World] |
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* [http://www.chelonia.org/ Chelonia]: Conservation and care of turtles. |
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==Gallery== |
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<gallery> |
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Image:Tortoise-Hatchling.jpg|A baby ''[[Testudo marginata]]'' emerges from its shell |
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Image:Testudos_002.jpg|''Testudo graeca ibera'',''Testudo hermanni boettgeri'',''Testudo hermanni hermanni'',''Testudo marginata sarda'' |
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Image:Sulcata.01.jpg|A young (3.5 years) Sulcata Tortoise ''[[Geochelone sulcata]]'' |
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Image:Tortoise closeup.jpg|A young, 20 year old [[Tanzanian]] [[Leopard Tortoise]] feeding on grass |
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Image:aldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg|Aldabra Giant Tortoise ''Geochelone gigantea'' |
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Image:Leopards tortoise.jpg|App 22 year old Leopard Tortoise |
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Image:Oakland Zoo - African Spurred Tortoise 03-WIKIPEDIA.jpg|An African Spurred Tortoise from the [[Oakland Zoo]] |
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Image:Tortoise mating.jpg|Pair of tortoises mate in a zoo |
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</gallery> |
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[[Category:Turtles]] |
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[[Category:Tortoises| ]] |
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[[Category:Testudinidae| ]] |
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[[ar:سلحفاة]] |
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[[bo:རུས་སྤལ་]] |
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[[bg:Костенурки]] |
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[[cs:Želva zelenavá]] |
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[[co:Cuppulata]] |
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[[cy:Crwban]] |
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[[de:Landschildkröten]] |
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[[es:Tortuga]] |
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[[eo:Testudo]] |
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[[fa:لاکپشت]] |
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[[fr:Testudinidae]] |
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[[gd:Crùban-coille]] |
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[[gl:Tartaruga]] |
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[[ko:거북]] |
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[[id:Kura-kura dan penyu]] |
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[[ilo:Pag-ong]] |
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[[os:Уæртджын хæфс]] |
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[[it:Testudinidae]] |
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[[he:צבים יבשתיים]] |
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[[la:Testudinidae]] |
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[[lb:Landdeckelsmouken]] |
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[[lt:Balkanų vėžlys]] |
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[[li:Sjèldkróddele]] |
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[[hu:Szárazfölditeknős-félék]] |
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[[mg:Fano]] |
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[[ms:Penyu]] |
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[[nl:Landschildpadden]] |
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[[ja:リクガメ]] |
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[[ug:تاشپاقا]] |
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[[pl:Żółwie lądowe]] |
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[[pt:Tartaruga]] |
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[[ru:Черепахи]] |
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[[simple:Tortoise]] |
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[[sr:Корњача]] |
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[[su:Kuya]] |
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[[fi:Kilpikonnat]] |
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[[sv:Landsköldpaddor]] |
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[[th:เต่า]] |
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[[tr:Kaplumbağa]] |
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[[zh:龜]] |
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Revision as of 20:44, 16 May 2008
tortoises are the shit