Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 in Galápagos

Galapagos Tortoise – photo by bmann, license: Sharealike 2.0 – noncommercial use
Click on picture for larger image.

For more images of Galápagos Tortoises click here

The Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus)

So impressed with the giant tortoises were Spanish explorers that they named the islands after them. Galápago is the Spanish name for tortoise.

There are 14 races or sub-species of Galápagos giant tortoise (although only 10 still exist in the wild) that are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor which most likely arrived on the archipelago floating in on ocean currents. Scientists hope to determine how closely related the races are from the results of a current project underway to study their DNA. Once that analysis is done they will know whether the 14 races recognized are members of one species or several species.

For information on each of the sub-species, click here.

These tortoises are vegetarians and consume large quantities of plant matter. They can weigh up to 270kg (600 lb) and live over 100 years.

---

You can adopt a tortoise egg or an adult tortoise through the Galápagos Conservation Trust.

---

Abingdon Island tortoise (Geochelone abingdoni) classified as Extinct in the Wild (EW);
Volcan wolf tortoise (G. becki) as Vulnerable (VU – D1+2);
Chatham Island tortoise (G. chathamensis) as Vulnerable (VU – D1+2);
James Island tortoise (G. darwini) as Endangered (EN – C2a);
Duncan Island tortoise (G. ephippium) as Extinct in the Wild (EW);
Sierra Negra tortoise (G. guntheri) as Endangered (EN – C2a);
Hood Island tortoise (G. hoodensis) as Critically Endangered (CR – D);
Volcan Darwin tortoise (G. microphyes) as Vulnerable (VU – D1+2);
Indefatigable Island tortoise (G. porteri) as Endangered (EN – C2a);
Volcan Alcedo tortoise (G. vandenburghi) as Vulnerable (VU – D2);
Iguana cove tortoise (G. vicina) as Endangered (EN – C2a);
Charles Island tortoise (G. galapagoensis) as Extinct (EX)