Volcán Wolf giant tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Volcán Wolf giant tortoise |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Adult Volcán Wolf giant tortoise | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Chelonoidis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. n. becki
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Chelonoidis niger becki (Rothschild, 1901)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Volcán Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger becki) is a special type of Galápagos tortoise. People also call it the Wolf Volcano giant tortoise or the Cape Berkeley giant tortoise. This tortoise lives only on the north side of Ecuador's Isabela Island. This island used to be called Albemarle Island.
These tortoises have a unique family history. They are linked to two different groups of tortoises. One of these groups comes from the nearby island of Santiago. Scientists believe the Volcán Wolf giant tortoise formed about 199,000 years ago. They have a special mix of genes from these two groups. You can mostly find them on the northern, western, and southwestern slopes of Volcán Wolf. This is the volcano they are named after. They live in a specific area of about 263 square kilometers. About 1,150 Volcán Wolf giant tortoises live on Volcán Wolf today.
Why It's Called That
The second part of the tortoise's scientific name, becki, honors an American bird expert. His name was Rollo Howard Beck.
Where They Live
The Volcán Wolf giant tortoise likes to live in certain places. Their favorite natural homes are forests and shrublands. These areas provide the right plants and shelter for them.
What They Eat
The Volcán Wolf giant tortoise has a plant-based diet. This means they are vegetarians. They eat different kinds of plants found in their habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga gigante del volcán Wolf para niños
