Hesperotestudo
Hesperotestudo ("Western turtle") is an extinct genus of tortoise native to North and Central America (ranging as far south as Costa Rica[1]) from the Early Miocene to the Late Pleistocene.[2] Species of Hesperotesudo varied widely in size, with a large undescribed specimen from the Late Pleistocene of El Salvador reaching 150 cm (4.9 ft) in carapace length, larger than that of extant giant tortoises.[3] Historically considered a subgenus of Geochelone, it is now considered to be distantly related to that genus. Its relationships with other tortoises are uncertain.[2] The exposed areas of the bodies of Hesperotesudo species were extensivel...read more