Galápagos tortoise Facts
The Galápagos tortoise is the largest living tortoise, a giant reptile found on seven of the Galápagos Islands that can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb).
- Class
- Reptile
About the galápagos tortoise
These tortoises are also the largest living cold-blooded land animals. The species includes 15 subspecies, 12 still alive and 3 extinct. Shell shape depends on the island. Where highlands are humid and low plants are plentiful, tortoises grow bigger and have domed shells and short necks. On dry lowland islands with little ground-level food, they stay smaller, with long necks and saddleback shells.
Charles Darwin noticed these differences on the Beagle's second voyage in 1835, and they helped shape his theory of evolution. When Spanish explorers reached the islands in the 16th century, they named them for galápago, their word for tortoise. Numbers dropped from more than 250,000 in the 16th century to about 15,000 in the 1970s, due to hunting for meat and oil, land clearing for farms, and introduced rats, goats and pigs.
Did you know?
- Wild Galápagos tortoises can live more than 100 years.
- Captive Galápagos tortoises can live up to 177 years.
- A captive tortoise named Harriet lived for at least 175 years.
Questions about the galápagos tortoise
How long do Galápagos tortoises live?
Over 100 years in the wild and up to 177 years in captivity.
Why do Galápagos tortoise shells differ?
Shell shape tracks habitat: domed shells on humid, plant-rich islands and saddleback shells on dry islands with little ground vegetation.
Sources
- Wikidata Q20014035, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Galápagos tortoise, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.