MINDEN PICTURES – New Giant Tortoise Discovered on Galapagos

In PlosOne was published an article about a newly-named species of Giant Tortoise. This variety has a steeply rounded shell (others are somewhat flatter) with quite flared front and back edges. Most individuals also have a pair of thin white lines around the neck and mouth, looking like necklaces when seen head-on. The population, which suffered poaching up until a couple of decades ago, is believed to number no more than 400, with very few juveniles present. They live on the eastern slope of Santa Cruz Island and their closest genetic relationship is with tortoise from the eastern half of San Cristobal Island. A different, well-known species of tortoise lives on the south-western slope of Santa Cruz, so the big mystery is why haven’t they cross-bred, especially when populations were larger than at present.