''Aldabrachelys'' is the recognised

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

for the Seychelles and Madagascan radiations of giant tortoises, including the

Aldabra giant tortoise The Aldabra giant tortoise (''Aldabrachelys gigantea'') is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. It is one of the largest tortoises in the world.Pritch ...

(''Aldabrachelys gigantea'').

Naming

This name is problematic in that the type specimen is actually represents '' Chelonoidis denticulata''; Bour R (2006). "Identity of ''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 and rediscovery of the type specimen". ''Emys'' 13 (4): 12–23. however, this was discussed and petitioned before the ICZNFrazer J (2009). "''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 (currently ''Geochelone (Aldabrachelys) gigantea''; Reptilia, Testudines): proposed conservation of usage of the specific name by maintenance of a designated neotype, and suppression of ''Testudo dussumieri'' Gray, 1831 (currently ''Dipsochelys dussumieri'')". ''Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature'' 66 (1
Case:3463
/ref> and accepted: the name ''Aldabrachelys'' is therefore the correct name for this genus.

Species

* †'' A. abrupta'' - abrupt giant tortoise (

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

) * †'' A. grandidieri'' - Grandidier's giant tortoise (extinct) * '' A. gigantea'' – with the following subspecies: ::'' A. g. arnoldi'' – Arnold's giant tortoise ::†'' A. g. daudinii'' – Daudin's giant tortoise (extinct) ::'' A. g. gigantea'' – Aldabra giant tortoise ::'' A. g. hololissa'' – Seychelles giant tortoise Tortoise remains from over 1,000 years ago, which have been found on the

Comoros The Comoros,, ' officially the Union of the Comoros,; ar, الاتحاد القمري ' is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It ...

, are believed to have been from an unknown species of the same genus. Gerlach J, Canning KL (1996)
"Evolution and History of the Giant Tortoises of the Aldabra island group"
''Testudo'' 4 (3): 33–40.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4713411 Turtle genera Reptile genera with one living species Taxa named by Arthur Loveridge