A female tortoise has a gestation period of 4 to 8 months, then journeys up to several kilometers (between July to November) to reach nesting areas along the coast. Scientists have estimates of their ages for the adults but it’s guesstimates. between may and july the female usually digs a nest at a burrow entrance or near a shrub. These endemic creatures have been intertwined with the islands’ identity all the way back to the point of recorded human contact, even inspiring the name bestowed on the islands (galapago meaning “tortoise… The closest living relative of the Galapagos giant tortoise is the small Chaco tortoise from South America, although it is not a direct ancestor. mating may occur anytime after emergence from hibernation in march until the beginning of hibernation in october. She then covers the nest and leaves. Tortoises, like their aquatic cousins, the Turtles, have a hard shell which protects their body. Scientists believe the first tortoises arrived to Galapagos 2–3 million years ago by drifting 600 miles from the South American coast on … Galápagos tortoises usually mate between January and May. The Galápagos tortoise, also known as the Galápagos giant tortoise is the 13th heaviest reptile alive today and the largest existing of the species. Giant tortoises on more humid islands are known to aggregate in large herds, whereas the tortoises inhabiting arid islands tend to be more solitary and territorial. Seeing Galapagos tortoises is high on the list for just about any intrepid visitor to the Galapagos Islands. It hasn’t been determined. The closest living relative of the Galapagos giant tortoise is the small Chaco tortoise from South America, although it is not a direct ancestor. She then covers the nest and leaves. Galapagos tortoises can be up to 1.8 metres (6 feet) from their head to their tail, and 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4-5 feet) across their shell. mating may occur anytime after emergence from hibernation in march until the beginning of hibernation in october. Male tortoises can weigh up to about 260 kilograms (573 pounds) and females up to about 136 kilograms (300 pounds). life cycle of the desert tortoise. This article also shares information about conservation efforts specifically for the Galapagos tortoise. Life Cycle.

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise can grow to be 5 feet tall …
The Galápagos tortoise complex or Galápagos giant tortoise complex (Chelonoidis nigra and related species) are the largest living species of tortoise.Modern Galápagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb).