Testudo kleinmanni was described by Lortet in 1883. His descrption emphasized shell color. Vaillant (1885) 
described Testudo [= Geochelone] yniphora on the basis of its not quite unique single gular scute (also found in 
Chersina angulata and Geochelone vosmaeri). Vaillant also noted that the carapacial pattern was similar to 
Geochelone radiata. Fernand Lataste described Homopus nogueyi [= Kinixys belliana nogueyi] in 1886. Despite 
Lataste's good description, he incorrectly assigned nogueyi to the genus Homopus. The small size of the type 
specimens and the inadequate comparative material probably contributed to Lataste's error. Because of the smallness 
of Lataste's specimens, they would not show the diagnotic feature, i.e., the carapacial hinge of Kinixys. 
In 1886, Boulenger named three taxa all now included within Psammobates tentorius. Loveridge and 
Williams (1957) considered Testudo fiski and Testudo smithi synonyms of Psammobates tentorius verroxii, whereas 
Boulenger's T. trimeni was considered to be a valid subspecies of Psammobates tentorius. Cervical scute size and 
shape, hip spine presence or absence, relative plastral scute length and shell color figured prominently in 
Boulenger's descriptions and good plates were included. Boulenger (1888) later described another species of small 
South African tortoise, Homopus femoralis. Boulenger noted large hip spines, large prefrontal and frontal head 
scales, the absence of median lingual triturating ridge on the lower jaw, and five claws on the manus (unlike the 
four-clawed condition in H. arelotus and H. signatus). In the following year, Baur (1889) discussed some 
nomenclatural problems in earlier works. As a consequence of his discussion, he proposed the names Testudo [= 
Geochelone] guentheri and T. [= Geochelone] galapagoensis. Unfortunately, nowhere did Baur discuss the 
morphological bases of his decisions. 
1900-1950 
At the beginning of twentieth century, Rothschild named three new species from Galapagos in five short 
notes. In the first of these, Rothschild (1901) described Testudo [= Geochelone] becki on the basis of the 
characteristic flaring of the anterior carapace margin also found in other saddlebacked tortises. In his next two notes, 
Rothschild (1902a, 1902b) corrected some understandable mistakes concerning Harlan's (1827) type of Testudo 
elephantopus. In another paper, Rothschild (1902c) described Testudo wallacei, which has since been shown to be an 
invalid, probably introduced, form (MacFarland et al. 1974a). Rothschild's final note (1903) concerned the tortoise 
species that now lives on Isla Santa Cruz (Indefatigable), which he named T. [= Geochelone] porteri (Fritts, pers. 
comm., believes this name is a junior synonym of T. [= Geochelone] nigrita). 
Friederick Siebenrock (1902) proposed the name Acinixys for Alfred Grandidier's Testudo planicauda and 
compared it to Kinixys and the then unwieldly genus Testudo. Siebenrock (1903) later named Testudo [= 
Malacochersus] tornieri and noted its flattened and leathery shell, but considered it an abnormality. In the following 
year, Siebenrock's description (1904b) of Testudo boettgeri [= Psammobates tentorius verroxii] indicates his 
confusion with the astounding variation in some tortoise species. Also in 1903, Boulenger described Testudo 
pseudemys [= Manouria impressa]. He used two features to distinguish 7. pseudemys from similar species (M. 
emys and M. impressa). The length of the anterolateral vertebral sulci supposedly distingushed T. pseudemys from 
M. impressa. However, this feature is quite variable and insufficiently delineated T. pseudemys from M. impressa. 
The narrow skull arches of T. pseudemys distinguished it from M. emys, which has broad skull arches. The skull of 
T. pseudemys was unknown to Boulenger but has since been shown to be M. impressa. 
In 1906, Deurden named a new species of South African tortoise, Homopus boulengeri. Deurden noted the 
higher number of marginal scutes (12 or 13, rarely 11), a small cervical scute, large imbricate forearm scales, and 
large hip spines, and several other features. Deurden also characterized the other species of Homopus, but wrongly 
included two taxa whose type specimens were juvenile Kinixys (H. darlingi Boulenger, 1902 and H. nogueyi Lataste, 
1886). Deurden (1907) more completely described the species of Homopus in the following year in a paper 
specifically concerned with color pattern. Boulenger (1907) described Testudo [= Indotestudo] travancorica. 
Although he didn't make special note of the fact, he noted that the cervical scute was absent, unlike the condition in 
Indotestudo elongata. Boulenger (1907) included two excellent plates with his description; both showed the 
similarities with Indotestudo elongata. Boulenger made no mention of the earlier described species Testudo [= 
Indotestudo] forstenii Schlegel and Miiller, 1840. Hoogmoed and Crumly (1984) showed that Indotestudo forstenii 
was the senior synonym of /. travancorica (Boulenger, 1907). Van Denburgh (1907) named four new tortoise species 
from Galapogos. All of his "diagnoses" were actually characterizations that relied mostly on shell ratios. However, 
both of the saddlebacked species described (Testudo [= Geochelone] phantasticus and Testudo [= Geochelone] 
hoodensis) were noted to have a throat marked with yellow. The throats of the other two species (T. [= Geochelone] 
darwinii and T. [= Geochelone] chathamensis) were noted to be black. 
