Details
Aldabrachelys gigantea
The Aldabra giant tortoise is a huge island tortoise of the Indian Ocean. Long-lived and slow-moving, it grazes and browses through grassland and coastal scrub.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Afrotropical island grassland and coastal habitats. Open turf, shrubland, shade, and freshwater pools are important resources.
Shell length 90-122 cm; weight 150-250 kg. A massive domed shell, thick legs, and long neck define the species. The neck can reach low shrubs as well as ground plants.
Diurnal and loosely social, it is often seen in groups. During heat it rests in shade, mud, or pools and feeds in cooler periods.
A herbivore, it eats grasses, leaves, fruit, and shrubs. Its grazing and trampling can shape island plant communities.
Females dig nests in the ground and lay eggs. Hatchlings are small, and growth to adult size takes many years.
It is listed as Vulnerable. With a limited range, it needs protection from invasive species, climate impacts, and coastal habitat change.
