![]() ![]() The dome-shelled tortoises lack this notch, meaning their ability to lift their heads is restricted. These are found in the drier and more arid of the islands, where there is less vegetation on the ground. The saddle-backed tortoises have saddle shaped shells with a high notch above the head, allowing their necks to reach up higher to eat vegetation off trees and bushes. Galapagos tortoises have two main shell types: domed and saddle backed. The females of the species are generally smaller. ![]() They are very large in size and the larger males can reach lengths of up to 6 feet from head to tail, 4 or 5 feet over the curvature of their shell, and a weight of up to 880lbs. ![]() At least 2 subspecies are now sadly extinct. It is generally agreed that there are now 13 different living subspecies of giant tortoise, although some are so closely similar that it took some time to identify whether they were in fact separate species or not. Galapagos hawk, dogs, rats (during egg stage and infancy) Highlands, warm-hot, dry climate, vegetated areas, scrubland Galápagos Tortoise Facts Overview Habitat: These giant beasts are best known for the fact that they inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, after his legendary expedition in 1835. They migrated from South America to the Galapagos Islands between two and three million years ago, probably during a large storm.Īfter migration occured, the species underwent diversification and split into around 15 subspecies, with different distribution and some differences in size and form. The Galápagos giant tortoises are native to the Pacific island archipelago of the same name, and they are fascinating and ancient creatures. ![]()
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