Hadrianus (turtle)


Hadrianus is an extinct genus of tortoise belonging to the Testudinidae found in the United States, the Yolomécatl Formation of Mexico, the Alai Beds of Kyrgyzstan and Spain and believed to be the oldest true tortoise known. The genus is thought to be closely related to the genus Manouria. The genus may have evolved in the subtropics of Asia and subsequently migrated to North America and Europe. Evangelos Vlachos reassessed the North American species attributed to the genus, and determined only two as accepted namely H. corsoni & H. majusculus. The remaining species were identified as either junior synonyms, moved to other genera or considered nomen dubium due to incomplete fossils.

Taxonomy

The species Testudo' sharanensis is hypothesized to actually be a species of Hadrianus.
  • Hadrianus corsoni
  • *Synonyms Emys carteri ; Testudo hadriana ; Hadrianus quadratus ; Hadrianus octonaria ; Hadrianus tumidus ; Hadrianus robustus ; Hadrianus utahensis ; Geochelone gilmorei
  • Hadrianus majusculus'''''

    ''Nomen dubium''

  • ''"Hadrianus allabiatus"''

    Moved species

  • "Hadrianus schucherti" moved to ''Cymatholcus schucherti''