EMYSystem Text Only Species Page: Geochelone elegans


home . introduction . world turtle database . conservation resources . contact us
order..........TESTUDINES (turtles, tortoises and terrapins)
family...........Testudinidae (Tortoises)
subfamily.......Testudininae ()
genus...............Geochelone (Typical Tortoises)
species..............Geochelone elegans (Indian Star Tortoise)
Original Description
Schoepff 1794 : 111
Holotype
Not located, but Schoepff 1794 stated that the specimen illustrated was from the "Museis Hagae Comitis et Harlemi" [possibly in the TSMHN in Haarlem, Netherlands].
Type Locality
"India orientali"
Original name
Testudo elegans
Common Name
Indian Star Tortoise
Distribution
India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Comments
Subgenus Geochelone according to Bour (1984c). Wallin (1977) showed that a Linnaean type of Testudo geometrica is this species rather than Psammobates geometricus (see Comment under that species). Reviewed by Smith (1931; as Testudo elegans), Tikader and Sharma (1985), Moll (in Swingland and Klemens, 1989), and Das (1991).
Note - informational or help links appear in red.
Additional Resources . . images . . maps . . resources . . . help
Copyright © 2000 The Terra Cognita Laboratory