Sulcata Evolution

[monkmonkey]

Anyone know about the evolution of the Sulcata? How many millions of years has this species been around? I'm planning to get one and want to know more about the evolutionary part of the species. I've tried to Google it but can't find anything.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Wow, you have asked a cool question.

A couple of specialized or hard to get publications cover much of this.

When you go to google, use the "more" tab in the google part of the window. Use "Google scholar" and search term like "tortoise phylogeny" Uwe Fritz is almost always one of the authors. Every year there is a specialist group that refines and update the taxonomic status of all chelonians including tortoises.

The latest list is here http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/checklist/

That bib will indicate which authors have sorted it out to the highest level of detail.

There is a book called "The crying tortoise" all about sulcatas, but it is difficult to find a copy.

And like in all disciplines the 'answer' is somewhat dynamic based of the most recent best use of knowledge. So the older a pub you look at the more likely it will not be in agreement with a more recent pub, that should be expected.

Will

 

[Tom]

Anyone know about the evolution of the Sulcata? How many millions of years has this species been around? I'm planning to get one and want to know more about the evolutionary part of the species. I've tried to Google it but can't find anything.

Good lord man. We hardly know anything about what they are doing out in the wild RIGHT NOW, much less eons ago...

Will is right. The crying tortoise is a must have for any sulcata owner...

 

[Levi the Leopard]

How about sulcata creation?

There is a lot of science out there pointing towards intelligent design. Your computer didn't create itself and that awesome species of a tortoise is WAY more complex than any super computer.
I'm offering my input and you can take it or leave it.

Sent from my TFOapp

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Tom wrote:

"Good lord man. We hardly know anything about what they are doing out in the wild RIGHT NOW, much less eons ago..."



That's why science is fun, you get to see things not visible to the eye. A reasonable good hypothesis of the phylogenetic origin to most species is sorted out.

I know that's not your higher level interest Tom, but it is fun to see what the eye can not.

Well, fun for some. That's how we know mushrooms are not plants, and birds are dinosaurs. You can't see that just by looking, but it is so. Some of "we" has a good idea on this topic.

Only one lead engineer and team developed a hyper sonic 20X the speed of sound air craft, so "we" can do it.

Will

 

[erica anne]

How about sulcata creation?

There is a lot of science out there pointing towards intelligent design. Your computer didn't create itself and that awesome species of a tortoise is WAY more complex than any super computer.
I'm offering my input and you can take it or leave it.

Sent from my TFOapp

Well said!