Chelonoidis vandenburghi (Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise)

Conservation Status:
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Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelonoidis_niger_vandenburghi

Chelonoidis vandenburghi, also known as the Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise, is a species of giant tortoise endemic to Española Island in the Galápagos archipelago. With a distinctive saddle-backed shell, it plays a critical role in the island’s ecosystem and is famous for its conservation story.

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Reptilia
  • Order: Testudines
  • Family: Testudinidae
  • Genus: Chelonoidis
  • Species: Chelonoidis vandenburghi

Common Names

  • Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise
  • Alcedo Volcano giant tortoise
  • Alcedo giant tortoise

Identification

  • Description: Chelonoidis vandenburghi has a large, saddle-backed shell with flared edges and long legs, allowing it to reach higher vegetation. Adults can grow over 4 feet in length and weigh up to 400 pounds.
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Males are typically larger than females and have longer tails and more pronounced shell curvature.

Native Origin and Distribution

  • Geographical Range: This species is endemic to Española Island (Hood Island) in the Galápagos archipelago. It once had a wider range but was severely impacted by human activity and invasive species.

Preferred Habitat

Chelonoidis vandenburghi prefers arid scrubland environments with sparse vegetation. They can often be found in areas with cactus and other hardy plants that thrive in the island’s dry climate.

Behavior

  • Feeding Habits: These tortoises are herbivorous, feeding on grasses, cacti, and other vegetation available in their habitat. They play an important role in seed dispersal for many plant species on the island.
  • Predators: Adults have few natural predators, but hatchlings and eggs are vulnerable to invasive species such as rats and feral dogs.

Reproduction

  • Breeding Season: Breeding occurs between January and August, with females laying eggs after the rainy season.
  • Reproductive Method: Females lay eggs in sandy soil or shallow pits, where they incubate for several months before hatching.

Conservation

  • Extinction Status: Critically Endangered
  • Threats: Habitat destruction, invasive species, and past human exploitation have severely reduced their population.
  • Conservation Measures: A successful breeding and repatriation program has been implemented, including removing invasive species and reintroducing captive-bred tortoises to the wild.

Economic Importance

These tortoises attract significant ecotourism, contributing to the local economy of the Galápagos by drawing in visitors interested in the island’s wildlife.

Interesting Facts

  • Chelonoidis vandenburghi played a central role in one of the most successful species recovery efforts, with individuals like “Diego,” a tortoise who fathered hundreds of offspring in captivity, helping to restore the population.
  • The unique saddle-backed shell allows them to reach higher vegetation, an adaptation for living on a dry island with limited low-growing food sources.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.