Santa Cruz Island
Galápagos is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, constituting a province of Ecuador.
About 1,050 km (about 650 mi) separate them from the western coast of South America.
Living giant tortoises on these islands were the reason for the islands to be called Galápagos.
At the Galápagos in the 1800-s British and United States warships and whaling vessels landed frequently.
People use the meat and eggs of tortoises for food and the fat in form of oil for street lighting.
A tortoise walks slowly when it moves; they move at a speed of only 0.2 km/h (about 0.1 mph).
Giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands are among the world’s most threatened tortoises.
Of 14 species, 11 remain; three killed off by the crews of whaling ships during the early 19th century.
Skin of a tortoise is covered with horny scales, which help prevent the inner body tissues from drying out.
Tortoises are animals known for their long life spans, which in some instances may exceed 150 years.
On Earth they appeared during the Triassic Period, that means from about 240 to 205 million years ago.
Rare are the giant tortoises found only in Galápagos and Seychelles.
Tortoises have strong, thick legs that can carry the weight of their heavy shells.
Once tortoises were so abundant that were collected by thousands.
Individual tortoises could be seen roaming here and there nowadays on the islands.
Shells of most tortoises have a domelike shape; however a few have a saddleback shape.
Endangered species are the tortoises, because human activities have altered tortoises’ natural environments.
Settled were the islands, but not until after they were annexed by Ecuador in 1832.
Galápagos is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, constituting a province of Ecuador.
About 1,050 km (about 650 mi) separate them from the western coast of South America.
Living giant tortoises on these islands were the reason for the islands to be called Galápagos.
At the Galápagos in the 1800-s British and United States warships and whaling vessels landed frequently.
People use the meat and eggs of tortoises for food and the fat in form of oil for street lighting.
A tortoise walks slowly when it moves; they move at a speed of only 0.2 km/h (about 0.1 mph).
Giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands are among the world’s most threatened tortoises.
Of 14 species, 11 remain; three killed off by the crews of whaling ships during the early 19th century.
Skin of a tortoise is covered with horny scales, which help prevent the inner body tissues from drying out.
Tortoises are animals known for their long life spans, which in some instances may exceed 150 years.
On Earth they appeared during the Triassic Period, that means from about 240 to 205 million years ago.
Rare are the giant tortoises found only in Galápagos and Seychelles.
Tortoises have strong, thick legs that can carry the weight of their heavy shells.
Once tortoises were so abundant that were collected by thousands.
Individual tortoises could be seen roaming here and there nowadays on the islands.
Shells of most tortoises have a domelike shape; however a few have a saddleback shape.
Endangered species are the tortoises, because human activities have altered tortoises’ natural environments.
Settled were the islands, but not until after they were annexed by Ecuador in 1832.
