The Galápagos Islands are a group of Islands off the coast of Ecuador. These islands are the location where nineteenth-century scientist Charles Darwin came up with his famously known theory. Darwin noticed that the unique animals here had adapted over long periods of time and gained different traits so that they could better survive in the environment. He called this the "Theory of Evolution".
The Galápagos tortoise is the largest species of tortoise. These creatures have shells that are a dark brown or grayish in color. Their legs are fat and stumpy with five claws on its front feet and four claws on the back feet. Their skin is dry, scaly, and rough. They can weigh over 800 pounds and grow to lengths of over six feet!
I was excited when I saw the tortoises! A few have been rescued and moved to mainland Ecuador so I got to see them up close. I knew they were big but they are way fatter than I imagined.
This species of tortoise are can only be found in Galápagos Islands. They live on seven of the 13 islands.
