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Description
Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus), at the Riverside Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is the largest living tortoise, endemic to nine islands of the Galapagos archipelago. Adults of large subspecies can weigh over 300 kilograms (660 lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 ft) long. Life expectancy of a wild tortoise is estimated to be 150-200 years.

In all subspecies, males have a concave undershell, which facilitates mating. The male is also always larger than the female.

The tortoises are herbivorous animals with a diet consisting of cactus, grasses, leaves, vines and fruit. Galapagos tortoises eat a large quantity of food when it is available at the expense of incomplete digestion. By acquiring most of their moisture from the dew and sap in vegetation (particularly the Opuntia cactus), they can go for long periods without actually drinking. They can also survive for long periods of time being forcefully deprived of all liquids, by breaking down their body fat to produce water.

More info: [link]

Kindly featured by Lara in her journal: [link] .

Description
Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus), at the Riverside Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is the largest living tortoise, endemic to nine islands of the Galapagos archipelago. Adults of large subspecies can weigh over 300 kilograms (660 lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 ft) long. Life expectancy of a wild tortoise is estimated to be 150-200 years.

In all subspecies, males have a concave undershell, which facilitates mating. The male is also always larger than the female.

The tortoises are herbivorous animals with a diet consisting of cactus, grasses, leaves, vines and fruit. Galapagos tortoises eat a large quantity of food when it is available at the expense of incomplete digestion. By acquiring most of their moisture from the dew and sap in vegetation (particularly the Opuntia cactus), they can go for long periods without actually drinking. They can also survive for long periods of time being forcefully deprived of all liquids, by breaking down their body fat to produce water.

More info: [link]

Kindly featured by Lara in her journal: [link] .