Any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of the family Testudinidae (chiefly Canada, US) or the order Testudines (chiefly UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, India), whose body is enclosed in a shell (carapace plus plastron). The animal can withdraw its head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators.

plural of tortoise

A flat-shelled species of tortoise, taxonomic name Malacochersus tornieri.

plural of pancake tortoise

plural of giant tortoise

Any member or species of the genus Geochelone, land tortoises reaching 1.3 meters in length and with average life spans exceeding 100 years.

(US) either of two species of tortoise native to the deserts of the southwest United States and northwestern Mexico, Gopherus agassizii and Gopherus morafkai

plural of desert tortoise

Any of the species of the taxonomic genus Gopherus, which are burrowing tortoises of southern North America.

A species of tortoise, Testudo hermanni, found throughout southern Europe.