Russian tortoise
| Russian tortoise | |
|---|---|
| A Russian tortoise in Kazakhstan | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Testudo |
| Species: | T. horsfieldii |
| Binomial name | |
| Testudo horsfieldii Gray, 1844 | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii), also commonly known as the Afghan tortoise, the Central Asian tortoise, the four-clawed tortoise, the four-toed tortoise, Horsfield's tortoise, the Russian steppe tortoise, the Soviet Tortoise, and the steppe tortoise, is a threatened species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Central Asia from the Caspian Sea south through Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and east across Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, China. Human activities in its native habitat contribute to its threatened status.
Two Russian tortoises were the first Earth inhabitants to travel to and circle the Moon, on Zond 5 in September 1968.