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To the Beauty of the Galapagos

Pictures of the giant Tortoise are instantly identified with the Galapagos. They were one more example to Darwin of the variations that occurred in many animals from one island to another. Darwin did know this from direct observation. The Governor of the Galapagos told him about these variations. The tortoise on Santa Cruz had a shell like an inverted soup dish (2077, 1101, 8779). In areas where the tortoise had to reach plants that are higher off the ground the shell is curved upward to allow the neck to make this reach (8864). Eleven of the original 14 variations in shell shape are still living.

The most famous of the tortoises is Lonesome George (8890, 8902) who about 100 years old. He has been unsuccessful in attempts to get him to mate. When he dies his variation of tortoise (Pinta Island) will be extinct.

Galapagos Tortoise