Galapagos Tortoise

The Galapagos tortoise is the largest living tortoise species, native only to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, where distinct populations evolved differently shaped shells on different islands, some domed and others saddle-shaped with a raised front opening that allows for reaching higher vegetation such as cactus pads. Individual tortoises can weigh several hundred kilograms and are famous for their extraordinary longevity, with some documented individuals living well over one hundred and fifty years, among the longest lifespans recorded for any vertebrate animal. Galapagos tortoises are slow-moving herbivores that graze on grasses, leaves, cacti and fruit, and their large size and low, efficient metabolism allow them to survive for many months without food or water if necessary, a trait that once made them a valuable, if devastating, source of fresh meat for passing sailing ships. Hunting, habitat disturbance and introduced predators reduced the total population from an estimated quarter of a million individuals to only a few thousand by the mid-20th century, but intensive breeding and reintroduction programs have helped several island populations recover significantly, even as at least one distinct subpopulation went extinct in modern times.