Saddleback tortoises live on the Pinta Island and have shells that rise in the front just like a saddle. For example, some islands have low arid vegetation while others have high more green lush environments. These feeding habits are based on local flora. These two types of tortoises have very different shell shapes, that have been adapted based on varying feeding habits. There are two different types of tortoises and each type inhabit a different island. Initially, they inhabited the easternmost islands of Espanola but soon ventured throughout the archipelago. It is believed that they traveled about 600 miles from the coast of South American either on their own or on vegetation rafts to eventually arrive at the Galápagos. Research done by scientists suggests that the first tortoises arrived in the Galápagos islands about 2-3 million years ago. This truly shows the impact that this species has had and continues to have on the Islands in Ecuador.
“Galapago” was a term used by the early explorers to describe the tortoises due to the unique shape of their shell. These islands were actually named for their giant tortoises! The old Spanish world “galapago” means saddle. The other group inhabits Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Galápagos tortoises represent one of the two remaining wild groups of giant tortoises in the entire world. Giant tortoises once inhabited most of the continents of the world and were able to thrive in various environments. This idea that species could change over time eventually led to Darwin’s infamous theory of evolution by natural selection. Overtime his fascination with these animals developed and he began to wonder if species from South America had reached the Galápagos and then changed as they adapted to new environments. British naturalist Charles Darwin observed numerous local plants and animals during his visit in 1835.
These islands changed our understanding of the natural world forever. The giant tortoises of the Galápagos are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the islands. The Galápagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador, in South America, most famous for being the home to many giant tortoises and sea turtle populations.
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