Galápagos Tortoiseガラパゴスゾウガメ

Chelonoidis nigerVU— Vulnerable

The Galápagos tortoise is the largest living tortoise and the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animal, endemic to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago, each with its own subspecies. It feeds on cacti, grasses, and other vegetation, storing enough water to survive over six months without drinking, and can live well over a century. Overexploitation reduced the population from roughly 250,000 in the 16th century to about 15,000 by the 1970s, and it is now assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Galápagos Tortoise (reference photo)
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand / CC0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Testudines / Testudinidae Source
Distribution
Native to seven of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, with distinct subspecies inhabiting specific islands or volcanoes; the islands themselves are named after the Spanish word for tortoise, "galápago." Source

Did You Know?

  • It is the largest living terrestrial cold-blooded animal, with shell shape varying between "domed" and "saddleback" forms depending on the island. Source
  • During his 1835 visit, Charles Darwin noticed that shell shape varied from island to island, an observation that contributed to his later theory of natural selection. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNでVU（危急）。島ごとの集団を対象に保全と繁殖が続けられています。

Habitat

ガラパゴス諸島の乾燥地から湿潤な高地。

Threats

  • 過去の乱獲
  • 外来動物による卵や幼体への捕食
  • 生息地の変化

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 外来種対策
  • 飼育下繁殖と再導入
  • 島ごとの個体群管理

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How long do Galápagos tortoises live?
They commonly live over 100 years in the wild, and captive individuals have been documented living past 170 years. Source
How did Galápagos tortoises influence Charles Darwin?
Darwin observed in 1835 that tortoises on different islands had differently shaped shells, an insight that fed into his development of the theory of natural selection. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org