Galapagos Tortoise

• The Galapagos tortoise has a specially shaped shell to make reaching for food easier.galapagos tortoise image by Diane Stamatelatos from Fotolia.com
  
  Galapagos tortoises weigh several hundred pounds at maturity. They grow up to 4 feet in length and may live for more than 100 years. The tortoises' shells may be dome-shaped if they live in areas with lush grass, or saddle-backed, with a carved-out section behind the turtle's head when they live in sparser areas. Turtles in those areas have adapted this saddle-backed shell so they can reach upward for available food. These tortoises also have longer legs for a taller reach.
  
  

Geography and Types

• According to the Honolulu Zoo website, there once were 14 types of tortoises on the Galapagos Islands; now only 11 still exist. These large tortoises live in the sparse, rocky areas of the islands, where they number only 9,000 to 10,000. Scientists believe they floated to these islands from the mainland hundreds of years ago.
  
  

Habitat

• The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles to the west of Ecuador. Although these islands are near the equator and endure hot temperatures, they are not lush or tropical. These desert conditions force the Galapagos tortoise to subsist on a variety of food.
  
  

Diet in the Wild

• Galapagos tortoises are herbivores. In the wild, they spend most of their day lumbering around the islands and grazing on the sparse plant life. They eat grasses, vines, cactus fruit and any other vegetation they come across. Manzanilla fruits and prickly pears are favorites of the large turtles.
  
  

Diet in Captivity

• Although more food is available to the tortoises when they're in captivity, these animals have grown accustomed to their restricted diets. Zoos attempt to re-create the Galapagos tortoise's natural diet with grasses, bananas, apples, papayas and lettuce.
  
  

Records

• According to the National Geographic website, the Galapagos tortoise is the longest-lived turtle, with records of living more than 150 years, and the largest turtle, with records of more than 5 feet long and 550 pounds. These records were accomplished by captive tortoises who were provided with adequate food and protection. These tortoises are highly endangered because pirates hunted them for food in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.