What is the largest living tortoise?
Quick answer
The Galápagos giant tortoise is the largest living species of tortoise. Large males can weigh more than 400 kg (880 lb) and measure about 1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft) long. They live on the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, and many live well over 100 years. The Aldabra giant tortoise of the Seychelles is a close second.
Key facts
- Weight
- Large males can exceed 400 kg
- Shell length
- Up to about 1.5 m
- Lifespan
- Often over 100 years in the wild
- Home
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
The islands are named after them
Spanish sailors named the islands after the tortoises: galápago is an old Spanish word for tortoise, possibly linked to the saddle-like shape of some shells.
Dome vs saddleback shells
| Shell | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Domed | Wetter, higher islands | Plenty of low plants to graze |
| Saddleback | Drier, lower islands | Raised front lets them stretch their necks up to reach cactus pads |
These differences between islands helped inspire Charles Darwin’s thinking about how species change; see what evolution is and what ship Darwin sailed on.
Near extinction
From the 1600s to the 1800s, sailors and whalers took perhaps 100,000 or more tortoises aboard ships as living food, since they could survive months without eating or drinking. Introduced goats, rats and pigs destroyed habitat and eggs. Several island forms went extinct.
Lonesome George
Lonesome George was the last known tortoise from Pinta Island. Found in 1971, he became a symbol of conservation. He died in 2012, and his kind was considered extinct. Breeding programs on the islands have since released thousands of young tortoises of other forms into the wild.
Long-lived giants
Giant tortoises are among the longest-lived land animals. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise living on St Helena, is thought to have hatched around 1832; see which animal has the longest lifespan.
Giant tortoises compared
| Species | Where | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Galápagos giant tortoise | Galápagos Islands | Up to 400+ kg |
| Aldabra giant tortoise | Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles | Up to about 250–360 kg |
| African spurred tortoise | Sahel, Africa | Up to about 100 kg; largest mainland tortoise |
For the biggest turtle in the sea, see the largest sea turtle.
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