# Galápagos tortoise The Galápagos tortoise is a giant turtle that can live for over 100 years! They are slow movers and love to munch on grass and leaves in their warm island home. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Galápagos tortoise](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Galapagos_Geochelone_nigra_porteri.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was Pandanus at German Wikipedia ., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galapagos_Geochelone_nigra_porteri.jpg) ## Appearance The Galápagos tortoise is massive, with a dark brown to black leathery skin and a high, domed or saddle-backed shell. Its shell shape varies between islands, with saddle-backed tortoises having longer necks to reach higher vegetation. They possess thick, pillar-like legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Testudinidae - **Genus:** Chelonoidis ## Interesting facts - Some Galápagos tortoises are so big you could sit on their back! Wow! - Their ancient ancestors floated to the islands on ocean currents! Wow! - They can go a whole year without food or water! Wow! - Tortoise shells have growth rings, just like a tree does! Wow! ## Special abilities - **Super Storage:** Galápagos tortoises can store large amounts of water in their bladder, which helps them survive long dry periods. - **Slow Metabolism:** Galápagos tortoises have a very slow metabolism, allowing them to live for over a century and go long without food. - **Armored Fortress:** Galápagos tortoises have an incredibly thick, bony shell that helps protect them from most predators. - **Reach for the Sky:** Saddle-backed tortoises can extend their long necks very high because of their shell shape, helping them eat tall plants. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-150 cm - **Weight:** 90-400 kg - **Lifespan:** 100-170 years - **Speed:** 0.3 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-16 - **Incubation:** 110-250 days ## Diet & Feeding These gentle giants munch on plants, fruits, and cacti to stay healthy and hydrated. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Fruits, Cacti (Opuntia), Flowers, Mosses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Prickly pear cactus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prickly-pear-cactus) (*Opuntia echios*) — Primary food and water source - **Depends on:** Palo Santo tree (*Bursera graveolens*) — Eats fallen leaves and fruits - **Eaten by:** Galápagos hawk (*Buteo galapagoensis*) — Preys on eggs and hatchlings - **Eaten by:** [Black rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Invasive species, eats eggs ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch or feed wild tortoises. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Galápagos tortoise? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Galápagos tortoise? 60-150 cm ### How much does Galápagos tortoise weigh? 90-400 kg ### How long does Galápagos tortoise live? 100-170 years ### How fast can Galápagos tortoise move? 0.3 km/h ### What does Galápagos tortoise eat? These gentle giants munch on plants, fruits, and cacti to stay healthy and hydrated. ### Where is Galápagos tortoise usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Galápagos tortoise hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Akron Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/akron-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Austin Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/austin-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Houston Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [California Academy of Sciences](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-academy-of-sciences-california) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Galápagos tortoise](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gal%C3%A1pagos-tortoise) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Galápagos tortoise: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gal%C3%A1pagos-tortoise)