Chelonoidis elephantopus

The GalÃ¡pagos tortoise or GalÃ¡pagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise and 10th-heaviest living reptile, reaching weights of over 400 kg (880 lb) and lengths of over 1.8 meters (5.9 ft). With life spans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. A captive individual lived at least 170 years.

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ZME Science posts about Chelonoidis elephantopus

Giant Galapagos tortoise extinct for 150 years might still be alive

Tue, Jan 10, 2012

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A subspecies of the the giant Galapagos tortoise, Chelonoidis elephantopus, long thought to be extinct for more than 150 years, is now believed to might still exist, scientists say. Yale University researchers conducted a highly thorough genetic analysis of various Galapagos giant tortoises in the region, which allowed them to speculate that at least a few dozen specimens [...]

Chelonoidis elephantopus, Galapagos Islands, Giant tortoise

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