Cylindraspis

Cylindraspis

Cylindraspis is a genus of recently extinct giant tortoises. All of its species lived in the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Rodrigues and RĂ©union) in the Indian Ocean and all are now extinct due to hunting and introduction of non-native predators. These giant tortoises were very large and slow, thus making them easy game. The Mascarenes were colonised in 1663. Most species of this genus were already driven to extinction by 1795 and the last individuals were reputed to have died around 1840 (Arnold 1979, Bour 1980, Cheke and Hume 2008).

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