GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE

Chelonoidis porteri

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animaux, animals

Phylum Chordata – cordés, cordado, chordates

Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 – répteis, reptiles, Reptiles

Order Testudines Batsch, 1788 – tortues, Turtles, Terrapins, Tortoises

Family Testudinidae Batsch, 1788 – Tortoises

Genus Chelonoidis Fitzinger, 1835

Species Chelonoidis porteri (Rothschild, 1903) – Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise, Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise, Western Santa Cruz Tortoise

STATUS : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

The Galapagos giant tortoise species are on the IUCN Red List – they range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. The Giant tortoise can lie until 175 years old and can weigh up to one ton; they are the biggest and the oldest of all the tortoises in the world. Chelonoidis porter is active in the morning and rest in the afternoon in water holes.These tortoises can sleep for 2 days while regulating their body temperatures; adult tortoises like to travel from inland to coastal areas in order to use the new vegetation after the rain; the Chelonoidis porteri is a fighter , males or females fight with each other competing for nesting areas; they mate from February to March producing harsh noises; these tortoise feed on dry grass, herbs, forbs, sedges, leaves of trees, shrubs, cacti, vines, moss, lichen, flowers, and fruits. The Giant tortoise was historically exploited by pirates and whalers because was an easy prey on the islands , some new species as dogs, and cats are a threat for the young Giant tortoises because they prey them ,and with cattle because they compete for the pasture.

References

Santa Cruz Giant-Tortoise. Santa Cruz Giant-Tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri). (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.reptilesofecuador.com/chelonoidis_porteri.html
Help the Galapagos giant tortoise! Galapagos Conservation Trust. (2018, November 13). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/get-involved/giant-tortoise-appeal/
Classic Journeys. (2022, September 8). 6 endangered species in the galápagos. Classic Journeys. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.classicjourneys.com/blog/6-endangered-species-in-the-galapagos/
Integrated Taxonomic Information System - search results. ITIS Standard Report - Error. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt#null