Hesperotestudo

Hesperotestudo is an extinct genus of tortoise native to North and Central America from the Early Miocene to the Late Pleistocene. Species of Hesperotestudo varied widely in size, with a large undescribed specimen from the Late Pleistocene of El Salvador reaching in carapace length, larger than that of extant giant tortoises. Historically considered a subgenus of Geochelone, it is now considered to be distantly related to that genus. Its relationships with other tortoises are uncertain. The exposed areas of the bodies of Hesperotestudo species were extensively covered with large dermal ossicles, which in life were covered in keratin. It has been suggested that species of Hesperotestudo were relatively tolerant of cold weather. Hesperotestudo became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene roughly co-incident with the arrival of the first humans in North America. There is apparently a site in Florida where one individual may have been killed that some suggested were evidence of butchering, although others suggested that the turtle was neither cooked nor does a ledge that was found near it date at the same time as it.

Taxonomy

Species list is based on Vlachos, 2018

† Hesperotestudo Williams 1950
*†Hesperotestudo bermudae Meylan and Sterrer 2000 Bermuda, Middle Pleistocene c. 310,000 years before present - shell length c.
*†Hesperotestudo crassiscutata Florida, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, Middle-Late Pleistocene shell length c.
*†Hesperotestudo ducateli Calvert Formation, Maryland, Middle Miocene
*†Hesperotestudo gilbertii Ogallala Formation, Kansas, Hemphillian, Late Miocene-Early Pliocene
*†Hesperotestudo orthopygia Kansas, California, Nebraska, Late Miocene-Pliocene shell length c.
*†Hesperotestudo osborniana Colorado, Nebraska, Montana, Early Miocene-Early Pliocene shell length up to
*†Hesperotestudo turgida Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Late Miocene-Late Pleistocene shell length c.
*†Hesperotestudo williamsi Oakville Formation, Texas, Early Miocene shell length c.