Galapagos tortoise how many

The giant tortoise arrived in Galapagos from mainland South America million years ago, where they underwent diversification into 14 species, differing in their morphology and distribution. After the death of Lonesome George in , the last Pinta island tortoise, twelve living species are thought to remain in Galapagos across ten islands.

Giant tortoises show large variation in size and shape but all species can be classed into two main shell types: domed and saddle-backed.

Dome-shelled tortoises lack an upward angle to the front of their carapace shell , restricting the extent to which they can raise their heads. They tend to live on large, humid islands where there is lots of vegetation to eat. Saddle-backed tortoises have an upward curve to the front of their carapace, which allows them to stretch up to reach higher growing plants.

They tend to live on arid islands in Galapagos, where food is less abundant. The Galapagos giant tortoise spends an average of 16 hours per day resting. The rest of their time is spent eating grasses, fruits and cactus pads. They enjoy bathing in water, but can survive for up to a year without water or food.

Small birds, such as Galapagos finches, can often be seen sitting on the backs of giant tortoises. Breeding primarily occurs during the hot season January to May , although mating may be seen at any time of year. Mating may last for several hours, with the male making loud roaring noises throughout.

Fireworks banned on the Galapagos to protect wildlife New tortoise species found on Galapagos The iguanas heading home.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original tweet on Twitter. Image source, Reuters. Related Topics. Tortoises Ecuador. What eats a Galapagos tortoise? In fact, these tortoises can go without eating or drinking for up to a year, because they can store food and water so well.

What is the smallest tortoise for a pet? Chersobius signatus. Chersobius signatus is the world's smallest species of tortoise family Testudinidae.

The species is commonly known as the speckled tortoise and also known locally as the speckled padloper and internationally as the speckled Cape tortoise. How long can tortoises live? Aldabra giant tortoise: 80 — years. How can you tell the gender of a tortoise? Shell Notch. How do you age a tortoise? By its hatching date.

A veterinarian may be able to estimate the animal's age based on shell condition, overall size, etc, but there's no way to pinpoint it. No, you can't tell a tortoise's age by counting the growth rings on its scutes - those only denote periods of faster growth. What is a group of turtles called? A group of turtles may be called a bale, turn, dole, or nest. Why do tortoises die? Tortoises can die for a number of reasons including insufficient food, poor quality diet, unsanitary conditions, stress, and untreated infections and injuries.