Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Aldabrachelys gigantea
Conservation Status
VulnerableReptilia · Testudines · Testudinidae
About
The Aldabra giant tortoise is one of the largest tortoises in the world, native to Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. Adults can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb). The species is one of only two giant tortoise species that survived to the present day (the other being the Galápagos tortoise). The population on Aldabra is estimated at around 100,000 individuals, one of the largest tortoise populations in the world.
Fun Fact
Aldabra giant tortoises have taken on the ecological role of seed disperser once filled by the dodo and other extinct animals on Indian Ocean islands, making them a keystone species for island ecosystems.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Grasslands, scrub, and coastal dunes on coral atolls
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
100-200 years
Threats
- Sea Level Rise
- Invasive Plants