Stigmochelys Temporal range:
Pliocene–recent
| |
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Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Testudinidae |
Genus: |
Stigmochelys Gray, 1873 |
Species | |
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Stigmochelys is a genus of tortoise endemic to Africa. Stigmochelys pardalis, the leopard tortoise, is the only extant species. [1] Leopard tortoises were once placed in the genus Geochelone along with many other large tortoises. [2] Two fossil species are known: