Giant tortoise
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Giant tortoises are characteristic of tropical island life. They occur (some species are now extinct) in such places as the Seychelles and the Galapagos islands often reaching enormous size.
These animals belong to the most ancient group of reptiles, appearing about 250 million years ago. In the Upper Cretaceous, 70 or 80 million years ago some already became gigantic and about 1 million years ago these reptiles reached the Galapagos Islands. Until 100,000 years ago most of the gigantic species began to disappear for unknown causes and only 250 years ago there were at least 20 species and subspecies in islands of the Indian Ocean and 14 or 15 species in the Galapagos Islands. From those, only one of the species of the Indian Ocean survives and 11 in Galapagos.
They are commonly known as the world's longest living animals, with an average lifespan of 177 years.
External links
- A giant Aldabra tortoise (http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/06/16/1118869034100.html)