About Tortoises

History of the tortoise -

A tortoise is a turtle that lives only on land. Galapagos tortoises were a major source of meat for sailors in the 17th and 18th cent. and were often slaughtered wantonly. Once so abundant that the islands were named for them (galápago is Spanish for tortoise). They became extinct on some islands and were endangered on most of the others. The tortoises are now protected by law, and scientists from the Charles Darwin Research Station have bred some 2,000 and set free the different subspecies on the islands from which they came.

Physical -

Tortoises vary widely in size. One of the largest species is the giant Galapagos tortoise, which lives on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Galapagos tortoises may reach a length of over 4 ft and weigh over 500 lb. There are about a dozen races of the Galapagos tortoise. The speckled tortoises of southwestern Africa are among the smallest species. Speckled tortoises are only about 4 inches long when fully grown.

They have club-shaped feet with reduced toes adapted for walking on land. The limbs are covered with hard scales. The upper and lower shields of some tortoises are equipped with a hinge, which permits complete closure when the limbs and head are withdrawn into the shell.

Tortoises feed primarily on plants and generally have mild dispositions. Like other turtles, tortoises lay their eggs in holes in the ground. When the eggs hatch, the young dig to the surface to fend for themselves. Most tortoises die in the first 10 years of life. Raccoons, foxes, and other predatory animals feed on tortoise eggs and young tortoises. Tortoises that survive the first several years can live an extremely long time. Some have lived more than 100 years in captivity.

Types of Tortoises -

There are about 40 species of tortoises. Many occur in hot, dry regions. Three species live in the United States. North American tortoises are burrowing forms with flattened feet and heavy nails. Three of the four species are very similar; the desert tortoise, the Texas tortoise, the gopher tortoise, and the Mexican tortoise The desert and gopher tortoises reach a length of 13 in., while the Texas tortoise is about 81/2 in. long. The Mexican tortoise is a large species. It has been much used for food, and the survival of this species is threatened.

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