Galápagos giant tortoise

The Galápagos giant tortoise is the largest living tortoise species in the world. It can reach a weight of over 400 kilograms (882 lb) and a length of over 1.50 meters (4.9 ft). In addition, the Galápagos giant tortoise has one of the longest life expectancies in the animal kingdom at over 100 years.

Differences between the islands

Charles Darwin's observations on the varying appearance of the shells of specimens from different islands during his research voyage in 1835 contributed to the development of his famous theory of evolution. Tortoises on islands with dry lowlands are smaller than those in the humid highlands and have saddleback shells and longer necks to reach higher lying food. Other reasons for the differences in evolution are geological obstacles that are insurmountable for the animals, such as the large lava fields on the island of Isabela.

Status and symbolism

The Galápagos giant tortoise is a so-called flagship species, meaning that it has a particularly symbolic character. All of the 12 subspecies living today are classified as threatened. In addition, at least two extinct subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise are known.

FACTS

Binominal name: Chelonoidis niger
Oldest known specimen: Harriet (hatched c. 1830 on Santa Cruz and died in Australia Zoo in 2006 at the age of over 175)
Distribution: Galápagos Islands
First described: 1824 (Jean René Constant Quoy & Joseph Paul Gaimard)

Galápagos tortoise Folding Card

This souvenir note from the Galápagos Series is dedicated to the Galápagos giant tortoise. Printed on genuine security paper, it features a Galápagos tortoise as a gold foil patch, motifs in UV color and haptic elements. While the vertically designed obverse depicts a giant tortoise, the reverse shows a portrait of Charles Darwin and Darwin's Arch before its collapse in 2021. Under UV light, the current appearance of the rock formation is visible. The Galápagos Series, which comprises a total of eight souvenir notes, is also available in a booklet with lots of information and pictures.

Create a request

Obverse: Galápagos giant tortoise, stylized Galápagos tortoise, map of the Galápagos Islands

Reverse: Darwin's Arch rock formation southeast of Darwin Island, portrait of Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Dimensions: 145 x 70 mm (5.71 x 2.76 in)
Material: Paper

Back to Galápagos Islands