Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Holotype adult male specimen, collected by Rollo H. Beck in 1906. | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Chelonoidis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. n. phantasticus
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Chelonoidis niger phantasticus (Van Denburgh, 1907)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Chelonoidis niger phantasticus is a special type of Galápagos tortoise. It is often called the Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise or Narborough Island giant tortoise. For a long time, people thought this tortoise was extinct, meaning it had completely disappeared. But in February 2019, something amazing happened! Scientists found a single female tortoise alive on Fernandina Island. In May 2021, tests confirmed she was indeed from this rare subspecies.
About This Special Tortoise
The Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise is a subspecies of the larger Chelonoidis niger group. Scientists sometimes consider each of these subspecies as its own unique species. They are all part of a big group of tortoises found only on the Galápagos Islands.
Discovery and Its Exciting Return
For many years, the only proof of this tortoise was one male specimen. It was found in 1906 by a team from the California Academy of Sciences. Sadly, that tortoise was killed for study. After that, there were only hints that the tortoises might still exist. People reported seeing droppings or bite marks on plants in 1964 and 2013. There was even an unconfirmed sighting in 2009.
But no one found a living tortoise until February 2019. An expedition found an old female tortoise. She might be the very last one of her kind, known as an endling. This tortoise was moved to a special breeding center on Santa Cruz Island. The goal is to help her subspecies survive. Scientists are now looking for a male tortoise to be her mate.
The 2019 expedition was a team effort. It included the Galapagos National Park Directorate and Galapagos Conservancy. Washington Tapia-Aguilera led the team. He is a director at the Galapagos Conservancy. The team also had four park rangers: Jeffreys Málaga, Eduardo Vilema, Roberto Ballesteros, and Simon Villamar. Their search and discovery were even shown on a TV show called Extinct or Alive. It was a very exciting moment for conservation!
On May 25, 2021, officials shared big news. Genetic tests had confirmed that the female tortoise was truly a Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise. Scientists from Yale University compared her DNA to the DNA from the male tortoise found in 1906. The results were published in 2022.
Danny Rueda, the Director of the Galapagos National Park, has announced more plans. Another expedition will go to Fernandina Island. They hope to find more members of this rare tortoise subspecies.
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga gigante de Fernandina para niños
