A dome shaped Galapagos tortoise opens wide. Galapagos tortoises have evolved into the largest land tortoises in the world due to the relative abundance of food on the islands, the low degree of competition with other species, and, most importantly, the lack of predators. Beginning in approximately the 1600s, however, man began to hunt and collect tortoises for food and significantly reduced the populations. The tortoises are currently protected, but three sub-species are believed to be... more »
A dome shaped Galapagos tortoise opens wide. Galapagos tortoises have evolved into the largest land tortoises in the world due to the relative abundance of food on the islands, the low degree of competition with other species, and, most importantly, the lack of predators. Beginning in approximately the 1600s, however, man began to hunt and collect tortoises for food and significantly reduced the populations. The tortoises are currently protected, but three sub-species are believed to be extinct. Approximately 15,000 individuals remain.* Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands. (*www.gct.org) « less
