''Centrochelys'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

tortoise Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a turtle shell, shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, ...

. It contains one extant species and several extinct species: * ''

Centrochelys atlantica ''Centrochelys atlantica'' is an extinct species of tortoise that lived in the Pleistocene. It was first recorded in the volcanic crater on Sal, Cape Verde.Chevalier, A., Joleaud , L., and Petit, G. 1935. Les dépôts quaternaires de l’ancie ...

'' * ''

Centrochelys burchardi The Tenerife giant tortoise (''Centrochelys burchardi'') is an extinct species of cryptodire turtle in the family Testudinidae endemic to the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. Characteristics It was a large tortoise, similar to tho ...

'' * ''

Centrochelys marocana ''Centrochelys'' is a genus of tortoise. It contains one extant species and several extinct species: * '' Centrochelys atlantica'' * ''Centrochelys burchardi'' * '' Centrochelys marocana'' * '' Centrochelys robusta'' * '' Centrochelys vulcanica' ...

'' * ''

Centrochelys robusta ''Centrochelys'' is a genus of tortoise. It contains one extant species and several extinct species: * '' Centrochelys atlantica'' * ''Centrochelys burchardi'' * ''Centrochelys marocana'' * '' Centrochelys robusta'' * '' Centrochelys vulcanica'' ...

'' * ''

Centrochelys vulcanica The Gran Canaria giant tortoise (''Centrochelys vulcanica'') is an extinct species of cryptodire turtle in the family Testudinidae endemic to the island of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. Characteristics This is one of the two describe ...

'' * ''

Centrochelys sulcata The African spurred tortoise (''Centrochelys sulcata''), also called the sulcata tortoise, is a species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa. It is the largest mainland species of tortoise in the world, and the ...

'' (African spurred tortoise) The largest species, ''C. marocana'', reached in carapace length. The

conservation status The conservation status of a group of organisms (for instance, a species) indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation ...

of ''Centrochelys sulcata '' has been changed from Vulnerable to

Threatened Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensat ...

with extinction by the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

because of seasonal wildfires, the international pet trade, and competition for food and space with other domestic animals.

References

{{Testudinidae Turtle genera Reptile genera with one living species Taxa named by John Edward Gray Testudinidae