It has even been speculated that among the tortoises living in the Galapagos today, there may still exist a small handful that were alive at the time of Darwin’s nineteenth-century visit.ġ6 Hours A Day Population, Sub-Species, and Habitat This makes them the longest living of all vertebrate species. The average lifespan in the wild is over 100 years, whilst in captivity, they are known to live even longer than this, with the oldest tortoise on record being 170 years old. It is also likely that a larger size was selected for overtime as this enables the tortoise to store more water and fat reserves and so endure long ocean crossings or survive in drought-prone climates.Īnother characteristic feature of Galapagos tortoises is their longevity. This may be due to their relative lack of natural predators, meaning they had less need to hide from threats or compete with other animals over resources. The original ancestors of the tortoises were probably of normal size and it was likely their gradual evolution on the islands that gave rise to this gigantism.

However, they can exceed 5 feet and reach up to 550 pounds. Galapagos tortoises are the world’s largest tortoises, averaging around 4 feet in length and weighing around 472 pounds. The most striking feature of the giant tortoise is of course its huge size. Tortoises have large, stumpy limbs covered in hard scales which they can withdraw into their shell for protection against hot temperatures or when they feel threatened.

The shell is also comprised of honeycomb structures containing small air chambers that help the tortoise bear its weight more easily. The plates of the shell are fused with the internal skeleton, providing the tortoise with a rigid protective structure. Galapagos tortoises have a large bony shell of a dull brown, light green or grey color. A Walk Facts About Galapagos Tortoises Physical Characteristics

Pinta giant tortoise scientific name