Description
The Galápagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is a reptile indigenous to Ecuador. It inhabits tropical and subtropical islands — arid lowlands to humid highlands of the galápagos.
Habitat
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Fun Facts
Galápagos tortoises are the largest tortoises in the world, weighing up to 417 kg (919 lbs) and living over 100 years
Their shell shape varies by island — 'dome-shaped' shells on islands with plentiful ground vegetation, 'saddleback' shells on arid islands to stretch for higher food
The species inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution when he visited the Galápagos in 1835 aboard HMS Beagle
They can survive up to a year without food or water by storing fat reserves and extracting moisture from vegetation
Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, died in 2012 at over 100 years old, becoming a global symbol of extinction