John Leconte (1854) described Teleopus luxatus, a synonym of Geochelone emys. LeConte noted a split 
supracaudal scute and described in great detail the vertebral and marginal scutes. He also noted the tricuspid upper 
jaw and bicuspid lower jaw and further remarked that this species shared features with both testudinids and emydids. 
Louis Agassiz published Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America in 1857. A 
great proportion of this work (Parts II & III of three parts) dealt with turtles. Therein, Agassiz named and allocated 
two species to a new genus Xerobates [= Gopherus}. It was diagnosed by a median premaxillary ridge, broad 
flattened unguligrade forelimbs, and a broad head covered with mostly small scales. Xerobates carolinus [= 
polyphemus] was not characterized, but distribution and life history notes were included. X. berlandieri was described 
and distinguished by light yellow color in the middle of and rimming some carapacial scutes, by divergent gulars, 
and by small size as suggested by retained granular areolae of the shell. The syntypes of Xerobates berlandieri (two 
specimens bearing the same number, USNM 60) are a juvenile and a hatchling, which explains the presence of 
granular areolae. These areolae are worn smooth in adults. 
Six years passed before any more currently valid names for tortoise species were proposed. Blyth (1863) then 
named Testudo [= Geochelone} platynota based on its large size, flat back, less numerous radiations on the carapacial 
scutes, and broader and lower carapacial shape. John Edward Gray (1863) "provisionally" named Kinixys spekii from 
an "imperfect" specimen from central Africa. The oblong shell, areolar color and lack of a carapacial hinge were used 
by Gray to characterize this form. Loveridge and Williams (1957) tentatively synonymized K. spekii with K. 
belliana; this decision was later reversed by Broadley (1982). John G. Cooper (1863) described Xerobates [= 
Gopherus] agassizii in honor of Alexander Agassiz. Cooper inadequately distinguished X. agassizii from other 
Xerobates by shell shape and color. Four years later, Grandidier (1867) named a tortoise from Madagascar, Testudo 
[= Acinixys] planicauda, He characterized this species on the basis of color, a single supracaudal, a small nuchal, and 
a uniquely flattened tail. 
One of the few studies to deal specifically with the cranial osteology of land tortoises appeared in 1869. In 
this work, John Gray described two taxa, Testudo (Scapia) falconeri [= Manouria emys] and Peltastes (an invalid 
genus including five species now allocated to at least three genera). Gray's characterization of T. falconeri detailed 
cranial structures that are not diagnostic, but the accompaning figure clearly illustrated features unique to M. emys; 
broad skull arches, a deep lower jaw, a narrow but long skull and the absence of an interdigitating surangular process. 
Gray further noted the similarities between Manouria fusca, another synonym of M. emys, and T. falconeri. The 
interruption of the alveolar surface by enlarged internal narial openings and slight prominences at the labial maxillo- 
premaxillary suture characterized Peltastes Gray (1869). Of the five species allocated to Peltastes by Gray, only P. 
[= Indotestudo] elongata was well characterized. 
A year later, Gray (1870a) named Testudo [= Geochelone] chilensis with only a very sketchy description, 
which wrongly contended that a nuchal plate [= cervical scute] is present. A plate of the presumed type is presented 
by Gray, and the cervical scute is absent on the illustrated specimen. In that same year, Gray (1870b) published 
another even shorter note that reviewed previous papers concerning the synonymy of T. chilensis. Also in 1870, 
Sclater noted that T. chilensis does not occur in Chile and that this species had been known to previous students. 
Fueling the fires of mutual dislike, he suggested a substitute name, Testudo argentina, which was never adopted. 
Gray published his Appendix to his earlier catalogue of British Museum turtles in 1872 and created another synonym 
of Geochelone, Centrochelys (type species Geochelone sulcata), defined by an absent cervical and large hip spines. 
Following Gray's flurry of activity, Giinther (1875) briefly reported on giant land tortoises in the British 
Museum and named three new taxa from the Galapagos, Testudo ephippium, Testudo microphyes and Testudo 
vicina, Giinther's descriptions are very good and include data on shells, skulls and limbs. Unfortunately, the lack of 
good locality data for referred material diminishes the utility of Giinther's descriptions. In fact, he incorrectly 
identified the island of origin for both Geochelone ephippium and Geochelone microphyes, whereas he was unable to 
discover an exact island of origin to Geochelone vicina. Two years later, Giinther's monograph (1877) on British 
Museum giant tortoises appeared. Therein, he named Testudo [= Geochelone] abingdonii. This monograph is 
second only to Van Denburgh's (1914) classic study and exceeded even Van Denburgh in the quality illustration and 
in his discussion of non-shell material. Giinther (1877) thought the skulls and other post-cranial non-shell material 
could be identified to species. My studies of the cranial osteology of Galapagos tortoises (Crumly, 1984a) have not 
supported Giinther's contention. Later, Giinther (1882) described Geoemyda [= Manouria] impressa from an 11 inch 
shell and noted its concave carapacial scutes. Giinther's outstanding illustrations of the type over-shadow the 
remainder of his description. 
