Cylindraspis vosmaeri (Saddle-backed Rodrigues Giant Tortoise)

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Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lorraineandbrian/4987941398

Cylindraspis vosmaeri was a species of giant tortoise endemic to Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean. Known for its large size and slow-moving nature, it became extinct in the late 18th century due to human exploitation and introduced predators.

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Reptilia
  • Order: Testudines
  • Family: Testudinidae
  • Genus: Cylindraspis
  • Species: C. vosmaeri

Common Names

  • Saddle-backed Rodrigues Giant Tortoise

Identification

Description

Cylindraspis vosmaeri had a large, domed shell with a length of up to 50 cm. It had a sturdy, cylindrical body, thick limbs, and a small head relative to its size. Its shell color ranged from light brown to grayish.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males were larger than females and had longer tails, but there were no striking visual differences in shell structure between the sexes.

Native Origin and Distribution

Geographical Range

This species was native to Rodrigues Island, part of the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Preferred Habitat

Cylindraspis vosmaeri preferred lowland forests and scrublands. It was well adapted to the island’s tropical climate, thriving in regions with abundant vegetation.

Behavior

Feeding Habits

As a herbivore, it primarily fed on grasses, leaves, and low-growing vegetation. It played a crucial role in seed dispersal and maintaining the island’s ecosystem.

Predators

The species had no natural predators before humans arrived, but it faced threats from humans and introduced species like rats and cats.

Reproduction

Breeding Season

Little is known about the specific breeding season of this species, but it likely followed similar patterns to other giant tortoises, mating during the warmer months.

Reproductive Method

Cylindraspis vosmaeri was oviparous, with females laying several eggs in shallow nests dug into the ground.

Conservation

Extinction Status

Cylindraspis vosmaeri is extinct, with the last known individuals disappearing in the late 1700s.

Threats

Human exploitation, habitat destruction, and the introduction of non-native predators led to the species’ extinction.

Conservation Measures

Unfortunately, there were no conservation efforts in place at the time to protect this species from extinction.

Economic Importance

The tortoise had no significant economic importance, although early settlers hunted it for food.

Interesting Facts

  • Cylindraspis vosmaeri was one of five giant tortoise species native to the Mascarene Islands.
  • It played an important ecological role by dispersing seeds and controlling plant growth on Rodrigues Island.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.