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Description

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Trionychia
Family: Macroderidae
Genus: Macroderes
Species: Macroderes faribus

The fariby turtle is Madagascar’s largest land animal. It is a large offshoot relative of softshell turtles, deriving from a lineage of unusual high-browsing trionychians. Due to being larger than their said relatives, it was long believed to be an example of island gigantism, that is until it is revealed that other macroderans were already large before one of them even traversed to Madagascar during the aftermath of the K-Pg extinction event; they were once measured to be between 1.5 meters to 4 meters tall, and were claimed to be extinct due to climate change, being hunted by humans, or competition with other high-browsing herbivores, including giraffids.
Unlike many softshell turtles, which had mainly aquatic lifestyles and carnivorous diets, the fariby turtle is semi-aquatic and herbivorous, feeding on leaves from high trees and on aquatic vegetation and algae. The fariby turtle is normally solitary, but may congregate in small groups whenever food is ample.

The picture above belongs to the courtesy of Trevor Henderson/Slimyswampghost.

Description

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Trionychia
Family: Macroderidae
Genus: Macroderes
Species: Macroderes faribus

The fariby turtle is Madagascar’s largest land animal. It is a large offshoot relative of softshell turtles, deriving from a lineage of unusual high-browsing trionychians. Due to being larger than their said relatives, it was long believed to be an example of island gigantism, that is until it is revealed that other macroderans were already large before one of them even traversed to Madagascar during the aftermath of the K-Pg extinction event; they were once measured to be between 1.5 meters to 4 meters tall, and were claimed to be extinct due to climate change, being hunted by humans, or competition with other high-browsing herbivores, including giraffids.
Unlike many softshell turtles, which had mainly aquatic lifestyles and carnivorous diets, the fariby turtle is semi-aquatic and herbivorous, feeding on leaves from high trees and on aquatic vegetation and algae. The fariby turtle is normally solitary, but may congregate in small groups whenever food is ample.

The picture above belongs to the courtesy of Trevor Henderson/Slimyswampghost.