The Galapagos Tortoise

Galapago is spanish for giant tortoise.

Galapagos tortoises are very well known for being the longest living vertebrate, averaging over 100 years.  The oldest on record lived to be 150 years.  The galapagos tortoises are also known for being the worlds largest tortoises with some exceeding 5 feet in length and reaching 550 pounds.  

There are now 11 different species of tortoises left in galapagos and 1500 remaining today. There used to be 250,000 around the time of the 16th century but due to human exploitation (the killing of tortoises for meat and oil), their numbers have fallen deeply.  Giant tortoises also exist on two small volcanic islands east of Africa called the Mascarenes and the seychelles.  LIke the Galapagos these also have flora and fauna that are very rare. 

One to four times a year female tortoises lay up to 16 eggs.  Galapagos tortoises eat mostly grass and leaves but can go without eating or drinking for over a year.  

Domed

Giant tortoise shells each  have a top part called the carapace and a smooth bottom part called the plastron. There are three different types of tortoise shells: domed (above), saddleback (below).

Saddleback

The third shell is a mix between the other two (below)

Mixed