Introduction 
Prerequisite to most revisionary studies is an examination of the nomenclatural history of the taxa under 
study. This is often a gruelling task, but is rarely published. Thus, each subsequent revisor must repeat the task of 
gathering all the references together and extracting the pertinent information. The following idiosyncratic review 
summarizes my view on the nomenclatural history of tortoises (family Testudinidae). 
Most, but not all, of the synonyms noted by Wermuth and Mertens (1977) are discussed below. The generic 
names in brackets are the currently used names (Loveridge and Williams, 1957; Auffenberg, 1974) or my recently 
recommended usage (Crumly, 1983, 1984b, 1984c). I have chosen not to detail the nomenclatural history of the 
Indian Ocean tortoises or the Galapagos tortoises (= Geochelone elephantopus complex of Crumly, 1984c) because 
their histories are too complex and because many biological questions need to be considered in order to interpret their 
histories. Detailed historical discussions of the tortoises of the Indian Ocean islands and the Galapagos can be found 
elsewhere (Van Denburgh, 1914; Slevin, 1959; Bour, 1984). Furthermore, the nomenclatural history of entirely 
extinct groups of tortoises (e.g. Stylemys, Cylindraspis) are not discussed. 
1750-1800 
Linnaeus (1758) proposed eleven turtle binomials in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae; two of these are 
now in the family Testudinidae. Both tortoises had been recognized earlier. He referred to Edwards's (1751, p. 204) 
figure in the description of Testudo graeca, and his description of Testudo [= Psammobates] geometricus referred to 
several earlier publications. T. graeca was characterized by elephantine feet with 4 toes on the pes. Psammobates 
geometricus was distinguished by the slightly conical carapacial scutes and the radiating shell pattern. Wallin 
(1977) demonstrated that Linnaeus based his description of P. geometricus on a specimen of Geochelone elegans as 
well as other descriptions. To preserve common usage, Hoogmoed and Crumly (1984) selected a lectotype one of 
the earlier descriptions (= syntypes) employed by Linnaeus. In the 12th edition of Systema Naturae, Linnaeus 
(1766) recognized Testudo [= Geochelone] denticulata by its eroded carapacial marginal (now known to be more 
prominent in Geochelone carbonaria, fide Williams, 1960) and the elephantine feet. 
Carsten Niebuhr edited Petrus Forskal's notes on his Middle Eastern travels (Forskal, 1775). These notes 
included Arabic names for all the animals he saw and the description of Testudo terrestris [= T. graeca terrestris] plus 
some life history and distributional notes. ForskAl felt that Arabic names would assist others in future fieldwork; 
however, if "Libanon" had not been mentioned there would have been no means of recognizing T. g. terrestris; it is 
the only tortoise living here. Miller's description (1780) of Testudo [= Geochelone] sulcata is based solely on an 
illustration. The illustration itself is unlabeled. However, Miller's index of illustrations, which includes the name 7. 
sulcata, enabled Loveridge and Williams (1957) to verify his authorship. Carl Peter Thunberg, a Linnaeus 
correspondent and collector coined Testudo [= Homopus] areolata (Thunberg, 1787). He noted the flattened mid- 
dorsal region of the carapace, the large imbricate scales of the forearm, and the depressed carapacial areolae. Two 
years later, Gmelin (1789), in Linnaeus's 13th edition of Systema Naturae, named Testudo hermanni. Gmelin noted 
two especially distinctive features: 1) The "caudae apice unguiculato" [an apical tail spine] and 2) "marginis 
scutella 24" [24 marginal scutes indicating a divided supracaudal]. 
Schoepff's beautifully illustrated volume (1792b) included descriptions of two new species, Testudo 
marginata and Testudo [= Geochelone] elegans. The marginated tortoise was delineated by its expanded and flared 
posterior carapacial margin. The shell pattern and less conical carapacial scutes distinguished Testudo [= Geochelone] 
elegans from P. geometricus. With the close of the 18th century, seven of the approximately 40 living species of 
testudinid were recognized. 
1800-1850 
Shaw's description (1802) of Testudo [= Geochelone} radiata was the first new tortoise named in the 19th 
century. He relied heavily on Grew's earlier description (1681, Musaeum Regalis Societatis). Shaw recognized that 
this species was not synonymous with T. [= Psammobates] geometrica, By virtue of its larger size and flattened, 
rather than conical, carapacial scutes, it was distinct from the earlier known T. geometrica. In France, Daudin 
published the second volume of Histoire Naturelle des Reptiles (1802) and described Testudo [= Gopherus] 
polyphemus and Testudo luteola [= Psammobates geometricus]. Testudo [= Gopherus) polyphemus was 
distinguished by its small scales, flattened forelimbs and ash-gray color. The description of T. luteola notes the 
many similarities shared with P. geometrica but distinguished it by less elevated conical carapacial scutes. 
