The giant tortoise of the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands giant tortoise is an amazing chelonium, has a long neck to get food and can spend hours feeding each day; he also needs hours of sun because he is cold-blooded!

It is not one, but 10 species of chelonians two extinct that inhabit the Galapagos Islands (there are no other places in the world). In this article we will tell you about the incredible giant turtle that we can find in this archipelago of Ecuador.

Characteristics of the Galapagos giant tortoise

Did you know that the Galapagos Islands were named in that way in 'honor' of the giant tortoises that explorers and naturalists found when they arrived in the sixteenth century? Subsequently, Charles Darwin divided them into subspecies of a single family: Chelonoidis Nigra.

These are the largest chelonians that inhabit the planet, since they can measure more than two meters and weigh around 500 kilos. In addition, they have another record: that of longevity, since in the wild they can live more than 100 years.

Today we can find some specimens of the giant turtle in zoos and nature reserves in various parts of the world, where they reach no less than 170 years of life.

As for their taxonomy, there are three different types of shells, which allow them to be differentiated:

1. Dome-shaped shell

These turtles inhabit mainly the highlands of the archipelago and in humid environments, such as those that can be found on the islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela (in the latter specifically in the area of volcanoes).

The dome-shaped shell allows the giant turtle to move through the dense vegetation without the danger of being trapped between the branches. In addition, it has a shorter neck than its 'relatives' and the breastplate is larger.

2. Saddle-shaped shell

The San Cristóbal giant tortoise is one of the clearest examples of this subgroup, which lives mostly in areas of low vegetation and desert. It has a special elevation in the front of the shell, added to its long neck, which allows it to reach the high leaves of the bushes or the pencas of the cacti.

3. Intermediate shell

It is arguably a combination between the other two types of shells. One of the subspecies that presents this feature is the Santa Cruz giant tortoise.

Behaviors of the Galapagos giant tortoise

All giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands are herbivorous and have no teeth. To feed they use their mouth finished in tip, with which they cut leaves and fruits. Their diet is composed of plants, fruits, aquatic ferns, lichens and cacti.

They eat as they find available food, even when they have not yet finished digesting what they have previously consumed. In addition, they have the ability to go a long time without drinking water, because they extract liquid from plants. But when they encounter a mirror of fresh water, they do not hesitate to enjoy it and dive in.

Another interesting feature is that the Galapagos giant tortoise is very slow and does not advance more than 300 meters per hour. But this slowness is complemented by great endurance, as you can walk for three days without stopping to rest.

In the case of giant tortoises that live on the wettest islands, they migrate after the end of the rainy season to the mountainous area, where grass is more abundant. Throughout its life it forms different 'herds' because it is a gregarious animal, that is, it is accustomed to living in community.

He even enjoys a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with certain species of finches, birds that also inhabit the Galapagos. These are placed on the head and are responsible for removing ticks from their neck.

The giant turtle is cold-blooded and, for this reason, spends a good amount of time in the sun at least two hours a day especially in the mornings. It is active for a maximum of eight hours. In some cases, to keep the body temperature elevated, they dive into water and mud pits near volcanoes. In addition, these "baths" also help protect against parasites, mosquitoes and other insects. There is no doubt that the giant tortoise of the Galapagos Islands is a fascinating animal... If we are lucky enough to visit this archipelago we will see them in several places while they eat. We can also follow the circular and deep footprints they leave in the mud or sand!

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