Galapagos

18903-80003 Espaniola giant tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) a race of giant tortoise from the dry, arid island of Espaniola, displaying the 'saddleback' shaped shell, characteristic of dry islands. Espaniola giant tortoises are browsers, stretching their necks high in order to reach sparse dry vegetation growing overhead, as there is little to graze on the ground during hot months of the year. They were almost hunted to the point of extinction for their meat, by humans, while their habitat was eaten away by goats.

9 / 11

18903-80003 Espaniola giant tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) a race of giant tortoise from the dry, arid island of Espaniola, displaying the 'saddleback' shaped shell, characteristic of dry islands. Espaniola giant tortoises are browsers, stretching their necks high in order to reach sparse dry vegetation growing overhead, as there is little to graze on the ground during hot months of the year. They were almost hunted to the point of extinction for their meat, by humans, while their habitat was eaten away by goats.

espanola tortoise 80003 island espaniola race goats destroyed survivor habitat hunted geochelone elephantopus giant galapagos tortoises chelonoidis nigra hoodensis saddleback dry