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''Cylindraspis'' is a genus of recently extinct giant tortoises. All of its species lived in the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean and all are now extinct due to hunting and introduction of non-native predators. Modern mtDNA studies of bone remains has determined that the ''Cylindraspis'' species were all descended from one species that colonised Mauritius from Madagascar by sea. The population on Mauritius differentiated into both saddle-backed and domed species, and the ancestors of the saddle-backed species (''Cylindraspis inepta'') then colonised Rodrigues (where they once again differentiated into both saddle-backed and domed species) and later Réunion, the most recently formed island. Human settlers colonised the Mascarenes in 1663. These giant tortoises were very large and slow, thus making them easy game. Like many island species they were also reported to have been friendly and unafraid of humans. 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). ==Species== The genus contains at least the following species: * †''C. indica'', Réunion giant tortoise, also known by the synonym ''Cylindraspis borbonica'', from Réunion * †''C. inepta'', Saddle-backed Mauritius giant tortoise, from Mauritius * †''C. peltastes'', Domed Rodrigues giant tortoise, from Rodrigues * †''C. triserrata'', Domed Mauritius giant tortoise, from Mauritius * †''C. vosmaeri'', Saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoise, from Rodrigues File:Cylindraspis indica 1792.png|''Cylindraspis indica'' File:Cylindraspis peltastes 1770.png|''C. peltastes'' File:Cylindraspis vosmaeri 1792.png|''C. vosmaeri'' 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cylindraspis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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