Galápagos giant tortoise, Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) Description
A dome-shelled Galápagos giant tortoise, Chelonoidis nigra
Date 26 August 2005
Author Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galapagos_giant_tortoise_Geochelone_elephantopus.jpg
The Galápagos tortoise complex or Galápagos giant tortoise complex (Chelonoidis nigra) are the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galápagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg. Today, giant tortoises exist only on two remote archipelagos: the Galápagos 1000 km due west of Ecuador, and Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania. Order: Testudines, Suborder: Cryptodira, Family: Testudinidae, Species: Chelonoidis nigra complex (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824b).
Synonyms:
Testudo californiana Quoy & Gaimard, 1824a (nomen oblitum)
Testudo nigra Quoy & Gaimard, 1824b (nomen novum)
Testudo elephantopus Harlan, 1827 (nomen dubium)
Testudo nigrita Duméril and Bibron, 1834 (nomen dubium)
Testudo planiceps Gray, 1853 (nomen dubium)
Testudo clivosa Garman, 1917 (nomen dubium)
Testudo typica Garman, 1917 (nomen dubium)
Testudo (Chelonoidis) elephantopus Williams, 1952
Geochelone (Chelonoidis) elephantopus Pritchard, 1967
Chelonoidis elephantopus Bour, 1980