Animal: Galapagos Tortoise

Scientific Name: Geochelone nigra

Animal Type: Reptile

Habitats: Island

The Galapagos Tortoise:

The Galápagos tortoise (or Galápagos giant tortoise), is the largest living tortoise. It is only found on the Galápagos Islands of the coast of Ecuador. These tortoises can live for more than 200 years.

Physical Characteristics:

Adults of large species can weigh over 300 kilograms (660lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 ft) long Their most notable characteristic, the large sloping shell is called a carapace. These very large shells are made of bone which is an integral part of the skeleton. The bony plates of the shell are fused with the ribs and other bones to form a rigid protective structure. When a tortoise feels threatened it can withdraw its head, neck and forelimbs into its shell for protection, presenting a thick shield to a would-be predator. The legs have hard scales that provide an effective armor when withdrawn.

Food Chain:

The tortoises are herbivorous animals with a diet consisting of cactus, grasses, leaves, vines, and fruit. Fresh young grass in particular is the favorite food of the tortoises, and others are the poison apple, the endemic guava and the water fern. Tortoises studied in the Santa Cruz tortoise reserve ate well over fifty different plant species. In the drier areas, fallen Opuntia cactus pads and fruits are an important element in the diet of tortoises. Galapagos tortoises eat a large quantity of food when it is available at the expense of incomplete digestion.

By acquiring most of their moisture from the dew and sap in vegetation, they can go for long periods without actually drinking. They can also survive for long periods of time being forcefully deprived of all liquids, by breaking down their body fat to produce water.

Habitat features:

The Galápagos tortoise is found on the Galápagos Islands west of Ecuador in South America. They have been hunted and their numbers have dwindled from as many as 250,000 to about 15,000. A truly rare and wonderful sight, you won't have to travel all the way to the Galapagos to see them. They are right here at Windaroo Zoo!