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The first animals in deep space, the first to circle the Moon, and the first two tortoises in space were launched on Zond 5 on 14 September 1968 by the Soviet Union. The Horsfield's tortoises were sent on a circumlunar voyage to the Moon along with wine flies, meal worms, and other biological specimens. These were the first inhabitants of Earth ...
It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). [2] They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals . [3] With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. Captive Galapagos tortoises can live up to 177 years. [4]
Some tortoises show negligible senescence. Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of biological aging ( senescence ), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age. [ 1 ]
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Tortoises can vary in size with some species, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise, growing to more than 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in length, whereas others like the Speckled cape tortoise have shells that measure only 6.8 centimetres (2.7 in) long. [2]
These tortoises can weigh as much as 417 kg (919 lb) and can grow to be 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) long. Giant tortoises originally made their way to islands from the mainland via oceanic dispersal. Tortoises are aided in such dispersal by their ability to float with their heads up and to survive for up to six months without food or fresh water. [3]
It was apparently extirpated from the wild but is now known only from 37 adults, including 28 captive, and 8 on Cousine Island, 6 of which were released in 2011 along with 40 captive-bred juveniles. Captive-reared juveniles show that there is a presumed genetic basis to the morphotype and further genetic work is needed to elucidate this. [8] [9 ...
The high domes of their shells allow for space for their lungs, which helps them maintain thermoregulation, also known as maintaining internal temperature. [13] Desert tortoises can grow to 10–15 cm (4–6 in) in height. They can range in weight from 8 to 15 pounds, or 3.5 kg to 7 kg. [14]