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An Aldabra giant tortoise, an example of a giant tortoise. Giant tortoises are any of several species of various large land tortoises, which include a number of extinct species, [1] as well as two extant species with multiple subspecies formerly common on the islands of the western Indian Ocean and on the Galápagos Islands. [2]
The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and genus Aldabrachelys. The species is endemic to the Seychelles , with the nominate subspecies , A. g. gigantea native to Aldabra atoll.
Arnold's giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea arnoldi), also known as the Seychelles saddle-backed giant tortoise, is a tortoise subspecies in the genus Aldabrachelys. It inhabited the large central granitic Seychelles islands, but was hunted in vast numbers by European sailors.
Jonathan (hatched c. 1832) [2] [3] is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea).His approximate age is estimated to be 192 as of 2024, making him the oldest known living land animal.
The three Aldabra-Seychelles giant tortoise subspecies can be distinguished based on carapace shape, however, many captive animals may have distorted carapaces and so may be difficult to identify. The Seychelles giant tortoise ( A. g. hololissa ) is broad, flattened on the back and with raised scutes ; it is usually a brownish-grey color.
It was originally one of the six endemic tortoise species of Madagascar (two large Aldabrachelys; three medium Astrochelys; two small Pyxis). [3] It was sympatric with the other giant tortoise species of Madagascar, Grandidier's giant tortoise ( Aldabrachelys grandidieri (also extinct)), and both species occupied both the coasts and the cooler ...
Aldabra giant tortoise, A. gigantea with recognised subspecies: A. g. arnoldi – Arnold's giant tortoise †A. g. daudinii – Daudin's giant tortoise A. g. gigantea – Aldabra giant tortoise A. g. hololissa – Seychelles giant tortoise, the individual Jonathan being the oldest known living terrestrial animal in the world
The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) and the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are considered the largest truly terrestrial reptiles alive today. [1] While the Aldabra tortoise averages larger at 205 kg (452 lb), the more variable-sized Galapagos tortoise can reach a greater maximum size of 400 kg (880 lb) and 1.85 m (6.1 ...