Aldabra giant tortoise  (Geochelone gigantea)

Species information

Videos and images

Authentication

Authenticated (07/06/2006) by Justin Gerlach. Scientific Co-ordinator, The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles.
http://islandbiodiversity.com

Glossary

  • Carapace: the top shell of a turtle. In arthropods (insects, crabs etc), the fused head and thorax (the part of the body located near the head) also known as ‘cephalothorax’.
  • Endemic: a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
  • Invertebrate: animals with no backbone.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (March, 2008)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. Animal Bytes, Busch Gardens (March, 2008)
    http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/reptilia/testudines/aldabra-tortoise.htm
  3. CITES (April, 2003)
    http://www.cites.org
  4. Gerlach, J. (2004) Giant Tortoises of the Western Indian Ocean.Chimaira publishers, Frankfurt.
  5. St. Louis Zoo (December, 2008)
    http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/reptiles/turtlesandtortoises/aldabratortoise.htm
  6. World Turtle Database (April, 2003)
    http://emys.geo.orst.edu/default.html
  7. Gerlach, J. (2006) Pers. comm.
  8. Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles (April, 2003)
    http://islandbiodiversity.com
left