Centrochelys atlantica Temporal range: Pleistocene | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Testudinidae |
Genus: | Centrochelys |
Species: | †C. atlantica |
Binomial name | |
†Centrochelys atlantica López-Jurado, Mateo, & García-Márquez 1998 |
Centrochelys atlantica is an extinct species of tortoise that lived in the Pleistocene and was first recorded in the volcanic crater on Sal, Cape Verde. It was initially identified as similar to the extant African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata). The species is no longer present anywhere in the Cape Verde islands. It has since been described as a new species, differentiated from Centrochelys sulcata by its smaller size and lesser robusticity. It does not seem there is any evidence this species came into contact with humans.