Biology:Chelonoidis guentheri
| Chelonoidis guentheri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chelonoidis guentheri | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Chelonoidis |
| Species: | C. guentheri
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| Binomial name | |
| Chelonoidis guentheri (Baur, 1889)
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| Synonyms | |
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Chelonoidis guentheri, commonly known as the Sierra Negra giant tortoise or Günther's giant tortoise, is a species of giant tortoise endemic to the Galápagos archipelago in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The specific epithet guentheri honours zoologist Albert Günther.
Taxonomy
This tortoise is a member of the Chelonoidis niger species complex, and is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of C. niger.[2]
Description
Male tortoises grow to about 120 cm and females to about 92 cm in length and may have either domed or flattened carapaces.[3]
Behaviour
Feeding
The tortoises graze on shrubs and low-growing herbaceous vegetation, consuming herbs, grass, cacti, lichens, and fruit.[3]
Breeding
Male tortoises compete with each other by extending their necks, gaping, biting and shell-bumping. They produce loud guttural noises while mating. Females lay clutches of usually 6–11 (occasionally up to 17) eggs. Juvenile tortoises tend to remain in the warmer, lowland, part of the species' range for the first 10–15 years of their lives.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The tortoise's range is limited to an area of about 800 km2 on the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano, from near sea-level to an altitude of around 1,000 m, at the southern end of Isabela Island. There it inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests, dry grassland, introduced vegetation and agricultural land. The population is estimated to comprise some 400–700 mature individuals, a decline of 99% from an estimated 71,000 individuals prior to human contact with the islands.[3]
Conservation
The species is considered to be Critically Endangered. The population was historically overexploited for food and oil by sailors and settlers, and some poaching continues. Other threats include predation of eggs and hatchlings, as well as habitat degradation, by introduced animals, including dogs, rodents, pigs, goats and fire ants. Volcanic eruptions also threaten the tortoises and their habitat.[3]
References
- ↑ Cayot, L.J., Gibbs, J.P., Tapia, W. & Caccone, A. (2018). "Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/9022/116505802. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ↑ "Chelonoidis guntheri (BAUR, 1889)". Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Chelonoidis&species=guntheri.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Arteaga, A; Bustamante, L; Vieira, J; Guayasamin, JM (2020). Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Quito: Universidad Tecnológica Indoamereica. https://www.tropicalherping.com/science/books/reptiles/reptiles_of_ecuador.html.
Wikidata ☰ Q12745313 entry
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