Galapagos+Tortoise

= **Chelonoidis nigra** =

The Galapagos tortoise(Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise and 10th heaviest living reptile. It scales up to 400 kg or 880 lbs and lengths of 1.87 meters or 6.1 feet. It is one of the longest lived vertebrates with life spans in the wild of over 100 years; with captive individuals of up to 170 years in modern conservation. The tortoise is native to seven of the Galapagos Islands with their shell size and shape varying between populations which helped Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution. On islands with humid highlands, the tortoises are larger with dome shells and shorter necks while on islands of dry lowlands, the tortoises are smaller with “saddleback” shells and long necks. // Watch me boogie to the right. // //Watch me boogie to the left. Come on everybody let's shake that thing.// The tortoises are ectothermic(cold blooded) and are well adapted to their environment. They are herbivores that consume a diet of cacti, grasses, leaves, lichens, berries, and etc which are not so common in this mostly arid environment. They can however endure 18 months deprived of all food and water, breaking down body fat to survive. Also they are able to survive mostly on morning dew from boulders when there is a shortage of food. They have also developed mutualistic relationship with small birds such as finches whereby the tortoises raises its body allow them to eat the ticks, parasites, and bacteria ridding the tortoise’s irritating ectoparasites. // Not now.... Just 5 mor-....minutes.....Actually, don't bother at all. //

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