How many tortoises are left in the world

By , when Charles Darwin arrived for the expedition that would ultimately inspire his theory of natural selection, these tortoises had evolved into distinct yet closely related species. The similarities among the animals were so striking that scientists long debated whether they were actually different types of the same species.

One of them, Chelonoidis donfaustoi , was not identified until , when researchers determined that the tortoises on the island of Santa Cruz are in fact two separate species.

At least two species have gone extinct. Giant tortoises have thick legs and small air chambers inside their shells that help hold up their massive bodies. There are two main types : domed tortoises, which live in the cooler regions of the archipelago, and saddle-backed tortoises, which live in dry, coastal environments.

Saddleback shells have a flared front opening that allows the animals to extend their necks to reach tall cacti. A slow metabolism and an ability to store large amounts of water mean they can survive up to a year without eating or drinking. Giant tortoises reach maturity at about 20 or 25 years old. They typically breed during the hot season, which occurs from January to May. Mating can take several hours , after which the female migrates to an area with dry, sandy ground.

There, she digs a hole in which she lays two to 16 eggs. The eggs hatch after around days, after which the young tortoises must dig their way up to the surface. Tortoises were also hunted for their oil, which was used to power lamps. Today, non-native species that settlers introduced to the islands—including feral pigs, dogs, cats, rats, goats, and donkeys —are a persistent threat, preying on tortoise eggs and hatchlings and competing with giant tortoises for food.

In , scientists confirmed the discovery of a Fernandina giant tortoise Chelonoidis phantastica , a species previously thought to be extinct.

The single female tortoise, found on its namesake Fernandina Island, has been taken to a breeding center. Researchers have also found tortoise tracks that could signal the presence of more C. Tortoises are even slower than you might think: They travel at about 0.

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The rescue and eventual recovery of the tortoise populations has been slow and steady. The dramatic decline of the Galapagos giant tortoises was due primarily to over-exploitation by whalers in the first half of the 19 th century; they collected live tortoises by the hundreds for food on their long voyages.

The tortoises require a specific assortment of plants found in a Mediterranean-like habitat, known as the renosterveld. Unfortunately, the renosterveld has seen intense development pressure over the last few decades, with much of the habitat being converted to agricultural use.

Even still, the European pond turtle has completely disappeared from much of Central Europe, thanks to overharvesting. And even with its native species mostly gone, Stanford says Europe is still a big player in the pet trade.

Economies and development levels vary greatly across the Western Hemisphere, but the threats facing turtles and tortoises everywhere on this side of the planet are surprisingly similar. The biggies are twofold: widespread loss and degradation of habitat as well as commercial collection to fuel the international pet and consumption trades. Speaking to the latter, Stanford said all you have to do is look back to May of this year when Mexican authorities confiscated 15, live turtles destined for China —the largest such bust in history, he said.

Among the species found in the crates were Mexican giant musk turtles near threatened and narrow-bridged musk turtles near threatened. A similar fate has befallen the tiny bog turtles of the eastern United States, also critically endangered , which are becoming increasingly separated from each other. In this case, however, more cattle could actually help bog turtles , as the herbivores devour the woody shrubs that overtake the mucky habitats the little guys prefer.

While the above may feel like a tour de force of bad news, there actually are a few reasons for hope. The Yangtze giant softshell turtle , which is down to less than a handful of individuals, comes to mind. Stopping the international trade in turtles and tortoises would help as well.

In , all international commercial trade of the Indian star tortoise was prohibited. Similar action could be taken to ban the trade of other vulnerable species. And remember those quirks of turtle biology that are laying them low?