Originally, Karl Linnaeus assigned all turtles and tortoises to the genus "Testudo" and identified this species as "Testudo denticulata" in 1766 with "testudo" meaning turtle, and "denticulata" meaning "tooth-like", referring to the jagged or serrated edges of the shell. Soon the term "Testudo" was only being used for tortoises as opposed to all chelonians, with tortoises defined by completely terrestrial behaviors, heavy shells, and elephant-like limbs with nails but no visible toes. The species got several other names, as well, for several reasons such as difficulty in distinguishing it from the red-footed, confusion over locations, researchers thinking they had discovered a new species in collections or in the field, etc.