Nature Essays

Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus) on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Giant tortoises are thought to belong to one species of reptile, with 14 different sub-species, three of which are believed to be extinct. The differences in them is in the shape of their shells. Each species adapted to the food supply of where it evolved. Some tortoise ate low growing grasses and others ate leaves on shrubs and trees.

In the Galapagos, there is a large population of the Giant Tortoise on Santa Cruz Island, home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. These huge, slow moving reptiles, weighing appoximately 300 kg (660 lbs), can live many months without food or water which helped bring about their near extinction. Ships would capture the tortoises and store them on the ship to supply the crew with food for many months at sea.

At the Charles Darwin Research Center, there is one male, the last of his species named "Lonesome George." When he dies, a fourth species will be gone.