What is Tortoise?
{{otheruses}} {{Taxobox | name = Tortoises | image = tortoise.aldabra.750pix.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = [[Aldabra giant tortoise]]<br />(''Geochelone gigantea'')<br />from [[Aldabra]] atoll in the [[Seychelles]]. | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] | ordo = [[Testudines]] | subordo = [[Cryptodira]] | superfamilia = [[Testudinoidea]] | familia = '''Testudinidae'''}} A '''tortoise''' is a [[reptile]] of the order [[Turtle|Testudines]] which lives on land. Like their aquatic cousins, the [[sea turtle]]s, tortoises are shielded from [[predator]]s by a shell. Most are quite small, but island tortoises have several times evolved to a [[giant tortoise|large size]]: those on the [[Galapagos]] are famous. [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]] made one of his rare mistakes when he did not note which island each of them came from. Later it became clear that they were slightly different on different islands. The name may have it's etymology from [[Greek underworld|Tartarus]] for its deep [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385550831_La_fontaine_au_Putto_et_tortues_de_Vintimille_The_Divine_Child_-Fontana_tonda_del_Putto_e_delle_tartarughe_di_Ventimiglia origin]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-09-20|title=Tartarus {{!}} Underworld, Punishment, Prison {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tartarus|access-date=2024-11-09|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref> tortoise shells take really long time to decompose == Further reading == * Chambers, Paul. ''A sheltered life: the unexpected history of the giant tortoise''. John Murray (Publishers), London. 2004. {{ISBN|0-7195-6528-6}}. * Gerlach, Justin. Giant tortoises of the Indian Ocean. Chimiara publishers, Frankfurt. 2004 == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Tortoise-Hatchling.jpg|A baby ''[[Testudo marginata]]'' emerges from its shell Image:aldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg|Aldabra Giant Tortoise ''Geochelone gigantea'' File:Gigantic Turtle on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos.JPG |Galápagos tortoise