Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Also known as Galápagos Tortoise

Galápagos giant tortoises are gentle architects of their island ecosystems, carving broad trails through dense vegetation and dispersing seeds across volcanic slopes. Depending on their home island and elevation, their shells diverge into domed carapaces adapted for grazing low grasses or saddleback carapaces that let long necks reach high prickly pear pads. Individuals spend hours wallowing in highland mud pools to stay cool and deter biting insects, occasionally hissing loudly as air expels when they retreat into their armored shells.