Psammobates

Genus of tortoises

Psammobates
Geometric tortoise
(Psammobates geometricus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Psammobates
Fitzinger, 1835[1]

Psammobates is a genus of tortoise erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1835. This genus contains three species, all of which are indigenous to southern Africa.[2]

The genus name means "sand-loving", and these tortoises typically inhabit the arid and semi-arid areas of southern Africa. Their diets and adaptations for this environment mean that these species do not generally survive outside their habitats and soon die when kept in captivity.

All three species suffer from illegal collecting and habitat destruction, but the geometric tortoise has historically been the worst affected and is now endangered.

Species

Distribution map of the three Psammobates species in southern Africa
  • Geometric tortoise, Psammobates geometricus
  • Serrated tortoise, Psammobates oculifer
  • Tent tortoise, Psammobates tentorius
    • Karoo subspecies, Psammobates tentorius tentorius (type species)
    • Namaqualand subspecies, Psammobates tentorius trimeni
    • Bushmanland subspecies, Psammobates tentorius verroxii

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psammobates.
  1. ^ [1] Retrieved December 13, 2014 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database (ITIS) (https://www.itis.gov)
  2. ^ JCVI.org (Retrieved February 24, 2010.)
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Tortoise family
Genera
Species of the tortoise family
AgrionemysAldabrachelysAstrochelysCentrochelysChelonoidis
Galápagos tortoise
Chelonoidis complex
†Cheirogaster
  • †Cheirogaster bacharidisi
  • †Cheirogaster gymnesica
  • †Cheirogaster schafferi
ChersinaChersobiusCylindraspisGeocheloneGopherus†Hadrianus
  • †Hadrianus corsoni
  • †Hadrianus majusculus
  • †Hadrianus octonaria
  • †Hadrianus robustus
  • †Hadrianus schucherti
  • †Hadrianus utahensis
  • †Hadrianus vialovi
HesperotestudoHomopusIndotestudoKinixysMalacochersusManouriaMegalochelysPsammobatesPyxisStigmochelysStylemys
  • †Stylemys botti
  • †Stylemys calaverensis
  • †Stylemys canetotiana
  • †Stylemys capax
  • †Stylemys conspecta
  • †Stylemys copei
  • †Stylemys emiliae
  • †Stylemys frizaciana
  • †Stylemys karakolensis
  • †Stylemys nebrascensis
  • †Stylemys neglectus
  • †Stylemys oregonensis
  • †Stylemys pygmea
  • †Stylemys uintensis
  • †Stylemys undabuna
Testudo
Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. Key: †=extinct.
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Suborder
Superfamily
Family
Cryptodira
Chelonioidea
(Sea turtles)
Cheloniidae
Dermochelyidae
 
Kinosternoidea
Dermatemydidae
Kinosternidae
Testudinoidea
Emydidae
Geoemydidae
 Platysternidae
Testudinidae
Trionychia
Carettochelyidae
Trionychidae
 
 
Chelydridae
Nanhsiungchelyidae
Protostegidae
 
Pleurodira
 
Araripemydidae
Bothremydidae
Chelidae
Pelomedusidae
Podocnemididae
Sahonachelyidae
 
 
 
  • Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on Turtles of the World 2017 Update: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status. † = extinct.
Taxon identifiers
Psammobates


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