Aldabrachelys gigantea Schweigger 1812 (Aldabra giant tortoise)

Reptilia - Testudines - Testudinidae

Opinion 2316 (Case 3463) permanently fixed specimen USNM 269962 as the neotype of this species, following the proposal of Frazier (2006)

Alternative combination: Testudo gigantea

Synonyms: Dipsochelys dussumieri Gray 1831, Testudo dussumieri Gray 1831

Full reference: A. F. Schweigger. 1812. Prodromus monographiae Cheloniorum. Königsberger Archiv für Naturwissenschaft und Mathematik 1:271-462

Belongs to Aldabrachelys according to T. Scheyer et al. 2018

See also Bour 1982, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 2013, Schweigger 1812 and van Dijk et al. 2014

Sister taxon: Dipsochelys elephantina

Type specimens:

  • Aldabrachelys gigantea: USNM 269962 (neotype), a skeleton
  • Testudo dussumieri: RMNH 3231, a skeleton.

Ecology: ground dwelling herbivore-herbivore

Distribution:

• Quaternary of the Seychelles (2 collections)

Total: 2 collections each including a single occurrence

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Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.


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