The Galapagos Tortoise is a species of very large tortoise, which is binomially named “Chelonoidis Niger”. The species comprises 15 species of which 13 are extant, and 2 are extinct. The Galapagos Tortoise is the largest living tortoise in the world, weighing up to 417 kg and having a lifespan of over 100 years.
Surprisingly the captive Galapagos tortoise can live up to 177 years. Here is an example of a captive individual, Harriet, who lived for at least 175 years. The islands where these tortoises are found are named after the Spanish word “Galapagos” which means “tortoise”, after being discovered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
The Galapagos Tortoise is native to the seven Galapagos islands.
Galapagos Tortoises have large bony shells of a dull brown or gray color.
They have large solid shells of a light brown or gray color. These shells are divided into plates. These plates are joined with the ribs in a stiff protective structure and integrated into the skeleton.
Surprisingly, Lichens grow on the shells of these slow-moving animals.
There is a pattern or segment can be observed on the shells of these tortoises.
You can see a shell segment throughout life, however, we cannot use their growth bands to determine their age because their outer layers can wear off with time.
Tortoises have five claws in their front legs and four in their back.
Tortoises can withdraw their neck, head, and forelimbs into the shell for protection. Their legs are stumpy, with dry, scaly, and hard scales.
Tortoises are herbivores.
They consume cacti, grasses, leaves, berries, lichens, melons, milkweed, and oranges.
They share a mutualistic relationship with some subspecies of Galapagos finch and mockingbirds to get rid of irritating ectoparasites.
However, there is no fixed season of their mating, but they have a seasonal peak between February and June in the humid uplands.
While mating, the male and female tortoise face each other, rise on their legs and stretch their necks with their mouths gaping open.
The vital reason for the decline in the number of Galapagos tortoises is the overexploitation of meat and oil. Their habitat has also been cleared for agriculture.
