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Aldabra Tortoise
Order: Testudines | Family: Testudinidae | Genus/Species: Dipsochelys dussumieri
Range
The Islands of the Aldabra
Atoll in the Indian Ocean. A
small population exists on
the Island of Changuu near
Zanzibar.
Habitat
Grasslands, low scrub, mangrove swamps, and coastal dunes.
Diet in the Wild
Mainly grasses, leaves, and stems, but will occasionally eat small invertebrates and carrion.
Aldabras have two main varieties of shell - those with domed shells eat primarily grasses and
low plants, and those living with food available higher above the ground, have a more flattened
top shell with the front raised to allow the neck to extend upward.
Reproduction
Breeding usually occurs during the spring and females may lay 10 - 25 eggs in a shallow nest.
The tiny independent youngsters will hatch out after an incubation period of nearly 8 months.
Size and lifespan
Aldabras are considered the largest tortoises in the world along with the Galapagos Tortoise.
Adult males may weigh over 600lbs. and females over 300 lbs. They may also be the longest
living vertebrate animal on the earth with confirmed records of over 150 years of age.
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable but there are nearly 100,000 still living in the wild.